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Project of the Month
NASA's Sustainability Base is oriented to maximize daylight and fresh air flow.
Rendering Credit: William McDonough + Partners
Sustainability Base
The design of NASA's Sustainability Base builds on the closed-loop thinking and self-sufficiency goals that NASA would employ in a human habitat elsewhere. The goal is to reduce energy demand through passive strategies and use renewables to achieve net zero energy consumption. Using sensor technologies originally developed for NASA's space missions, a dynamic web of sensors will continuously monitor all subsystems in an intelligent, intuitive and cognitive way. Creating and testing new decision support tools like these are an essential component of NASA's Sustainability Base.
Sustainability base is one of the greenest Federal buildings ever constructed. Blending seamlessly with its environment, the building's orientation takes advantage of both the sun's path and prevailing winds. Daylighting will serve as the primary source of illumination for all but approximately 40 days of the year. To reduce plug load energy, all occupants will have plug load monitors, energy efficient devices, and individual energy dashboards that provide real time feedback on their energy use.
Sustainability Base uses a sophisticated array of technology that moves it beyond the 'smart buildings' that we think of today. The building will be able to anticipate and react to changes in weather, sunlight, temperature and usage. Over time, it will be able to automatically optimize its performance in response to internal and external changes.
The building also generates its own renewable power through a roof array of photovoltaics and a highly efficient solid oxide fuel cell.
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New Research
| Net Energy Metering, Zero Net Energy and the Distributed Energy Resoure Future: Adapting for the 21st Century
On behalf of PG&E, Rocky Mountain Institute investigated the complexities in analyzing the costs and benefits to the utility associated with distributed generation (DG). This report explains the implications of DG and addresses questions likely to be key in future policy discussions.
For more information, Read the Report
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Featured ZNE Project: NASA Sustainability Base
Photo Credit: César Rubio courtesy of William McDonough + Partners |
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In this Issue
In this issue of the Action Bulletin you'll find news about the intuitive control system used at NASA's Sustainability Base, a recent investigation into the costs and strategies used in zero energy commercial buildings, upcoming trainings and webinars about ZNE commercial buildings, and new research on the impacts of distributed generation.
About the Action Bulletin
In response to requests for more information on news and events in the zero net energy buildings arena, New Buildings Institute, in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), developed this ZNE Action Bulletin to keep you informed of new trainings, workshops, innovative buildings and developments with key strategic efforts in policy and planning. |
| News | |
Getting to Zero - 2012 Status Update: A First Look at the Cost and Features of Zero Energy Commercial Buildings
This report examines the number, location, costs and design strategies of various types of zero energy commercial buildings (ZEBs) as well as zero energy-capable (ZEC) buildings, which are energy efficient enough to be zero energy but have not taken the final step of on-site renewable generation. This research by New Buildings Institute, NASEO and the Zero Energy Commercial Building Consortium is the most comprehensive look at the state of zero energy commercial buildings to date.
For More Information: read the report
Zero Energy Buildings - Global Market, Regulatory and Technology Analysis for Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy in Commercial and Residential Buildings
According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide revenue from zero energy buildings will grow rapidly over the next two decades, reaching almost $690 billion by 2020 and nearly $1.3 trillion by 2035. That represents a compound annual growth rate of 43%, with much of that growth occurring in the European Union.
An Executive Summary of the report is available here.
First Two Projects Certified Under Net Zero Energy Building Certification
Two projects, both existing building retrofits, have completed the first full set of third-party audits for Net Zero Energy Building Certification from the International Living Future Institute. Painters Hall, a community building in the Pringle Creek community in Salem, Oregon, and the IDeAs Z2 Design Facility, an office building for Integrated Design Associates in San Jose, California each earned certification as net zero energy buildings.
Read the full Press Release.
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| Education & Training | |
Getting to Zero - Webinar on the Cost and Features of ZNE Buildings - April 26, 2012 from 10:00-11:30 PST
Zero energy commercial buildings are cropping up across the United States. Join NBI, NASEO and the Zero Energy CBC to learn more about NZE project feasibility using current technologies. In addition, participants will learn more about the programs and policies that have facilitated ZNE buildings. Energy data, costs, system output and system design of a few of these innovative projects will be highlighted.
Two Trainings in Madison, Wisconsin:
1. Design and Construction of Net Zero Energy Buildings - June 4-6, 2012
Zero Energy Buildings use a highlevel of energy conservation techniques along with passive strategies such as solar heat, daylighting and natural air movement. In this training, participants will learn about design strategies and techniques necessary to achieve net zero or net zero capable buildings. This course focuses on the building envelope and passive strategy optimization.
2. Net Zero Energy Approaches for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems - June 6-8, 2012 As a companion course to Design and Construction of Net Zero Energy Buildings, this course will focus on the MEP systems required to achieve net zero energy use. Substantial discounts are available for those interested in attending both courses.
For more information, check out the Program Descriptions.
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| Planning & Policy | |
Tuscon & Pima County Net-Zero Energy Building Code
This voluntary, Net Zero Energy Code has both prescriptive and performance approaches for commercial office, retail and apartments - building types which comprise approximately 30% of total energy use in these two Arizona counties. The new standard utilizes an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) to measure predicted and actual energy use. The development of an energy budget and the net zero potential is defined by the ability of the building to generate on-site energy with the area on the building roof, thus essentially requiring energy efficicieny. Net zero certification is issued afer one year of performance demonstrates achievement of the goal.
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| Other Announcements | |
MORE RESOURCES ON ZNE
Zero Energy Commercial Building Consortium
The Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium (CBC) is a public/private consortium of commercial building stakeholders working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and deliver technology, policies and practices to achieve sector-wide market transformation. Consortium membership is free. Members work with DOE to achieve near-term results while pursuing long-term goals for net-zero commercial buildings.
For More Information: Visit the updated CBC Website
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We look forward to hearing about your ZNE efforts. If you want to get the word out on related upcoming ZNE events, new research, buildings or other California ZNE Action Plan news, please send info to Heather Flint Chatto, heather@newbuildings.org. |
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