Net Zero Buildings

The other day I was reading an online article about solar and wind energy for residential units. One of the criticisms the article presented was that energy producing technologies at a residential scale won’t solve large-scale energy problems. Large solar or wind plants are needed if one wants to use green energy to solve any kind of large-scale problem. The author then went on to counter-point by asking the question why not the small-scale, local model? What if energy wasn’t produced at a large, centralized location, but instead it was produced at a small, more localized level on a widespread scale? Why can’t the building itself produce its own energy?

Traditionally, buildings constitute 40% of the energy consumption in the U.S. and E.U. There has been a push in the architectural community to reduce this percentage. Net zero or near zero buildings are gaining in popularity and importance for this very reason. Net zero or near zero buildings produce as much energy as they consume. This can be achieved through a combination of energy efficient building systems (geo-thermal and lighting selection), building envelopes (ICF and low-e glazing), building orientation (natural ventilation and shading), and energy producing systems (solar panels and wind turbines).   Net zero buildings don’t have to be fully autonomous. These buildings can still be hooked to the grid. During times of low energy demand, the building can run off its own energy production. If the building is producing more energy than needed, excess energy can be fed back into the grid. During times of high energy demand or low energy production, the building could then draw from the grid as needed.

The idea of having a local, decentralized source of power for buildings may seem far off, but the technology to do this exists right now. Maybe not every building produces its own power. What if different neighborhoods had their own individual power sources? A system like this would be more secure when there are power failures due to intense storms and blackouts. One could also have individual neighborhoods experimenting with new technologies and different systems combinations. What if the neighborhood elementary school became a power contributor?

Here is a diagram of a net zero home. These same concepts can apply to educational facilities. Image courtesy of http://blog.builddirect.com/greenbuilding/net-zero-home-building/. You can also find more information on net zero homes here.