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Featured ZNE Project
Photo Credit: Stephen Miller
Newberg Center PCC
Newberg, Oregon
The Portland Community College (PCC) Newberg Center was recently recognized as an American Institute of Architects (AIA), "Top Ten" project because of its good looks, demonstration of innovative design and energy efficient building performance. The 13,500 square foot LEED Platinum building opened in the Fall of 2011 and is home to classrooms, computer lab, and open commons, as well conference rooms and administrative functions. According to the project's architecture team at Hennebery Eddy, the building "incorporates a passive approach to mechanical systems including natural ventilation, daylighting, thermal mass, and a super insulated building envelope."
Photo Credit: Stephen Miller
According to the AIA's Top Ten Green Projects Case Study, "The Newberg Center was funded as part of a $374 million bond measure. As a public institution with a deep environmental commitment, PCC wanted to show that sustainability is not only for private, big-budget institutions - that it can, and should, be done on a public budget to create sustainable spaces accessible to all socio-economic groups. The Newberg Center was seen as a pilot project for PCC to understand sustainable building strategies not previously used on their campuses and to have a tangible project that moves them towards creating a net-zero campus. As such, the net-zero aspects were a mission-based rather than economics-based decision. The simple payback for the proposed facility, with all net-zero aspects combined, is 20.2 years (incentives not included).
The total project cost (land excluded) was $7.2 million, with a building construction cost of $4.7 million. Additional funding for 75kW of the solar array came from the State of Oregon's 1.5% for solar requirement placed on the bond funding. To offset some of the energy-efficiency cost measures, the Newberg Center was also enrolled in the Energy Trust of Oregon's Path to Net Zero pilot program and received approximately $88,000 in incentives."
Project Contact: Erica Dunn, Hennebery Eddy Architects
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| New Research | |
NEW DRAFT ZNE REPORTS
Written comments are invited on the following draft reports:
1) The Technical Feasibility of Zero Net Energy Buildings in California
2) The Road to ZNE: Mapping Pathways to ZNE Buildings in California
These studies are managed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on behalf of the statewide Investor Owned Utilities with oversight from the
California Public Utilities Commission. Comments are due by December 6, 2012.
To comment or to read the draft studies: see the Notice of Draft ZNE reports |
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Portland Community College, Newberg, OR
Photo Credit: Stephen Miller
In this Issue:
- Featured ZNE Project: Portland Community College Newberg Center
- Policy News: CPUC Approves Energy Efficiency Programs for 2013-2014
- ZNE Winning Designs Announced: Leading Edge and Architecture at Zero Design Competitions
- Smart Grid Training - December 13, 2012
- ZNE Residential & Commercial Stakeholder Meeting - November 28, 2012
- New ZNE Reports: ZNE Roadmap & Technical Potential Study - Notice of Draft Comments due by December 6, 2012
- ZEC Case Study: Dr. David Suzuki Public School - A "ZE Capable" Building
- "ZNE-Ready" Voluntary Residential Certification - DOE & PHIUS
About the Action Bulletin
In response to requests for more information on news and events in the zero net energy (ZNE) 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 & Events | |
CPUC APPROVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLANS AND LEVERAGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE CONSUMER BENEFITS
On November 8, 2012, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), building on California's proud history in energy efficiency, approved a portfolio of energy efficiency programs and budgets for 2013-2014, further affirming that cost-effective energy efficiency is the state's least expensive and most environmental resource, as well as the first line of defense against power shortages. Approved programs will deliver approximately 4,000 gigawatthours and 750 megawatts of electricity savings over the next two years, reducing the need for at least two large power plants, while also delivering significant savings of natural gas. The CPUC approved plans for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Company, and community choice aggregator Marin Energy Authority. Further, to better leverage energy efficiency expertise at the local government level, the CPUC created two Regional Energy Networks to complement the utility programs - the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN).
The CPUC approved a total budget of approximately $1.9 billion for the energy efficiency efforts of the utilities, MEA, and the two Regional Energy Networks.
For More Information: Read the press release
ZNE DESIGN WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Architecture at Zero Competition
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), in collaboration with the University of California, Merced, and American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter (AIA SF), have announced the award winners of the 2012 Architecture at Zero Design Competition. The winning designs incorporated elements of energy efficiency, renewable generation and a high-quality architectural design that emphasized sustainability principles. To help generate innovative ideas for zero net energy building designs, the Architecture at Zero 2012 competition challenge was to design a new student housing or administrative building for the UC Merced campus as well as a schematic district energy plan for a defined site on campus. International experts judged the entries and awarded $25,000 in total prizes.
Honor Awards were given to: Loisos & Ubbelohde Associates for "Silver Streak" and Ren Ito Arq. for "Cactus." Merit Awards were given to: Archassist for "Cotton Farm" and team Wei Yan and Edward Clark for "Homeostasis." Student Awards were given to: team Daniel LaRossa and Amadeo Bennetta for "[Agri]cultural Durability," recent graduates of University of Virginia and a student team from Academy of Art University in San Francisco for "Mountain."
For More Information: Read the press release or visit architectureatzero.com
Leading Edge Design Competition Winners
Architecture students from around the United States participated in the Leading Edge Student Design Competition as part of their 2011-12 education. Administered by New Buildings Institute and sponsored by Southern California Edison and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Leading Edge challenges students to incorporate principles of energy efficiency and sustainability as a basic standard of building design. This year's Competition was set in California's Central Valley, in the city of Merced. Titled Re:Generation, the theme was a co-housing community aimed at baby boomer retirees, emphasizing vitality and incorporating elements devoted to recreation, technology and wellness. Winners and their schools were awarded $15,000 in total prizes.
Students entering Challenge 1 (3rd- and 4th-year and graduate level students) designed a zero-net energy, mixed-use building of approximately 40,000 square feet containing 12 units of co-housing, a yoga studio, exercise gym and meeting space, along with 3 units of office/retail and a landscaped courtyard. The First Place winner was a team from Cuesta College - Salvador Villanueva and Agus Tio.
Challenge 2 students (1st- and 2nd-year) designed a zero-net energy, 6-unit townhouse style residential building with an outdoor children's play yard and an internet café / juice bar. First Place went to Natalie Abbott of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The judges were impressed by the creative ways students integrated the details of sustainability with innovative design aesthetics and noted the competitors using building energy modeling skills more than ever before.
For More Information: Read the full press release. Complete judges' comments and images of all winning entries can be viewed on the Results page of the competition website . | |
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Education & Training |
TRAININGS
Smart Grid Fundamentals
December 13 (Thursday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm) | Pacific Energy Center, San Francisco
"Smart Grid" is a general term describing the merging of information technology with the electrical grid. A smarter grid is essential to our goals of energy efficiency, security, and environmental protection, being a requirement if we want to integrate large amounts of renewable energy and electric vehicles. This class will give a broad overview of the Smart Grid and all of its many aspects, including key players in the industry and how it will affect current and future jobs. A number of noted speakers will give a range of presentations and be available for panel discussion. Agenda includes:
*Essential grid terms and concepts
*State initiatives and workforce programs
*Domains and cross-cutting issues
*Standards and product testing
*Home area networks, smart communities
*Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
*Third-party businesses and employment needs
*Panel discussion
For more information: View the Course information or Visit the PG&E Training website. |
| Planning & Policy |
ZNE Stakeholders Meeting - Residential & Commercial
November 28, 2012 | 9:30 - 4:00 pm
California Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco, Auditorium and Courtyard/Golden Gate Rooms
On November 28, 2012, the Energy Division is hosting a meeting to recap progress on the State's Zero Net Energy goals since 2008, and to look get input on ZNE priorities for 2013-14 and beyond. Please attend or call in to this meeting that will:
- Present a draft Zero Net Energy Roadmap study and solicit feedback and written comments (study authorized by CPUC and managed by PG&E and other IOUs)
- Present several notable case study examples of Zero Net Energy homes, communities and commercial buildings
- Review progress made since 2008 on California's Zero Net Energy Goals
- Solicit stakeholder input on priorities for residential and commercial Zero Net Energy buildings work for 2013-14 and beyond
The draft Zero Net Energy Roadmap study includes information and recommendations on efficiency as well as distributed generation and some demand response requirements if California is to meet its Zero Net Energy Goals. Afternoon space is limited, so please RSVP to guarantee in-person participation.
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| Innovative Buildings | |
Photo Credit: Enermodal Engineering
Dr. David Suzuki Public School - A "Zero Energy Capable" Building
The Suzuki Public School in Windsor, Ontario is the first LEED Platinum school in Canada. Built in 2010, and located just under 5 miles from Detroit, Michigan, this project is a good example of schools that are achieving very high levels of energy performance. Despite extreme climate variations of cold winters and warm, humid summers, this 58,000 square foot elementary school has been able to demonstrate a very low energy use intensity of 25 kBtu/square feet.
For more information: Read the High Performance Building's case study |
| Other Announcements | |
"ZNE-Ready" Voluntary Residential Certification
The U.S. Energy Department has announced a new partnership between the Department's Challenge Home program and Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) on a voluntary certification process for homes that are so energy efficient they can offset most or all of their utility bills with a small renewable energy system. These homes are referred to as zero net energy ready homes. Home builders participating in these programs gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace by providing their customers unparalleled energy savings and a seamless path to achieve maximum energy efficiency by providing Challenge Home certification as a first step to the Passive House program.
The Energy Department's Challenge Home program certifies homes that are 40-50% more energy efficient than typical homes, while also helping to minimize the risk of indoor air quality problems and ensuring compatibility with renewable energy systems. Through the Challenge Home program and its original Builders Challenge specifications, the Department has certified more than 13,500 homes which are saving consumers more than $10 million each year. Among these certified homes, more than 1,350 are considered zero net energy ready homes based on Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores of 55 or lower.
For More Information: Read the press release or visit the DOE Challenge Home Program 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 CA ZNE Action Plan news, please send info to Heather Flint Chatto at heather@newbuildings.org. |
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