Net Zero Energy Buildings - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Surveyors and Architects

Net Zero Energy Buildings

Course Outline

This six hour online course discusses the application potential and benefits of net zero-energy technologies and practices in commercial buildings on the US energy system. The course discusses benchmarking of net zero-energy performance including the associated costs, programmatic factors and market penetration strategies.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will learn about:

Net Zero Performance Metrics;
Technologies and Practices;
Benchmarking of Net Zero Performance;
Costs and Optimization;
Market Penetration With Net Zero Strategies;
Net Zero Analysis;
Maximum Technology Scenarios With Net Zero;
Programmatic Factors;
Comparison of Technologies and Practices;
Framework of Analysis Used In This Net Zero Report;
Energy End Use Splits;
Opportunities For Net Zero In Commercial Buildings;
Definition of Problem Of Achieving Net Zero;
Understanding of Project Scope;
Challenges to Achieving Net Zero;
Comparison of Technologies and Practices;
Net Zero Nomenclature; and
Additional Resources Addressing Net Zero.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for mechanical and energy engineers.

Benefit for Attendee

Attendee of this course will be able be more aware of the benefits and application opportunities of Net Zero energy use strategies in commercial buildings.

Course Introduction

The zero-energy building goal of this study was found to be largely achievable. Based on the projections used in this study of future performance levels from currently known technologies and design practices, 62% of buildings could reach net zero-energy. Calculated according to floor area, rather than by the number of buildings, 47% of commercial building floor area could reach the zero-energy goal.

Course Content

This course is primarily based on the Technical Report NREL/TP-550-41957, December 2007 “Assessment of the Technical Potential for Achieving Net Zero-Energy Buildings in the Commercial Sector"

Net Zero Energy Buildings

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/41957.pdf

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

Energy efficiency improvements that use the best available technologies and practices and integrated, whole-building design approaches can, on average, reduce consumption by 43%. Reducing consumption through energy efficiency is important in the zero-energy building context because it requires much less photovoltaics to reach net-zero. The main reason buildings failed to reach zero in this study was that they had too little roof area to accommodate photovoltaics. This study found trends that clearly support the intuitive notion that the buildings with the greatest potential to reduce consumption are more likely to attain the zero-energy building goal.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

United States Green Building Council – www.usgbc.com
US Department of Energy – www.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory – www.nrel.gov

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.