The document discusses zero energy buildings, which are buildings that produce as much renewable energy as they consume annually through technologies like solar panels and wind turbines. Most zero energy buildings use the electrical grid for energy storage but some are independent of the grid. They reduce energy usage through efficient HVAC, lighting, and other technologies. The zero energy goal is becoming more practical and affordable as renewable energy costs decrease and technologies improve.

1. ZERO ENERGY
BUILDING

2. Zero-energy building also known as a
zero net energy (ZNE) building, net-
zero energy building (NZEB), or net
zero building, is a building with zero
net energy consumption and zero
carbon emissions annually. Buildings
that produce a surplus of energy over
the year may be called "energy-plus
buildings" and buildings that consume
slightly more energy than they produce
are called "near-zero energy buildings"
or "ultra-low energy houses".

3. Most zero energy buildings use the
electrical grid for energy storage but
some are independent of grid.
Energy is usually harvested on-site
through a combination of energy
producing technologies like solar and
wind, while reducing the overall use
of energy with highly efficient HVAC
and lighting technologies. The zero-
energy goal is becoming more
practical as the costs of alternative
energy technologies decrease and

4.  The development of modern zero-energy
buildings became possible not only through
the progress made in new energy and
construction technologies and techniques, but
it has also been significantly improved by
academic research, which collects precise
energy performance data on traditional and
experimental buildings and provides
performance parameters for advanced
computer models to predict the efficacy of
engineering designs.
 The zero-energy concept allows for a wide
range of approaches due to the many options
for producing and conserving energy

5. Science House at the Science Museum of Minnesota
(Science House)
Overview
•Location: St. Paul, MN, United States
•Building type(s): Interpretive Center
•New construction
•1,530 ft2 (142 m2)
•Project scope: a single building
•Urban setting
•Completed June 2003
Science House became operational on June 24,
2003. The building went into use when the Big
Back Yard opened to the public on June 26, 2004.
•Rating: Zero Energy Building
Science House serves as a public environmental experiment facility,
classroom, and special event space for the Science Museum of Minnesota's
outdoor science park, the Big Back Yard. Science House was designed to be a
zero-energy building: that is, the building generates, through its 8.8-kilowatt
photovoltaic system, more energy than it consumes on an annual basis.

6. Zero Energy Building
Science House requires very little energy because of its design.
Additionally, because it is an all electric building, it generates all of its
needed energy on-site with a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system that
produces roughly 30% more energy than the building consumes. So,
this building qualifies as a net zero-energy building (ZEB). Specifically,
Science House is a:
• Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a
year, when accounted for at the site. Science House is an all electric
building that produces all energy on-site using PV.
• Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in
a year, when accounted for at the source. Because Science House is an
all electric site ZEB it also qualifies as a source ZEB.
Emissions ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free
renewable energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources
annually. Science House offsets any emissions for which it is
responsible through its PV system which produces electricity with zero
emissions.

7. Environmental Aspects
Science House, designed as a zero-energy building, is
continuously monitored to publicly demonstrate that it produces
more energy than uses annually. Energy modeling was used to
refine design decisions to create a building that is 60% more
energy efficient than required by code, and building-integrated
photovoltaics are used to make the facility a net producer of
energy. Key energy-efficiency strategies include: daylighting to
minimize electrical lighting loads; ground-source heat pumps to
heat and cool the building and to supply its hot water needs;
passive solar design to minimize loads on the heat pumps; multi-
modal natural ventilation; and continuous computer monitoring
and control of mechanical systems to enhance indoor air quality
while reducing energy consumption.

8. Building Programs
Indoor Spaces: Classroom (60%), Laboratory (20%), Office
(10%), Restrooms (10%)
Outdoor Spaces:
Other (30%), Golf course (25%), Wildlife
habitat (12%), Garden—decorative (10%),
Pedestrian/non-motorized vehicle path (10%),
Patio/hardscape (8%), Interpretive landscape
(4%), Garden—productive (1%)
Keywords
Integrated team, Design charrette, Green framework, Simulation,
Green specifications, Contracting, Commissioning, Performance
measurement and verification, Transportation benefits, Brownfield
redevelopment, Open space preservation, Wildlife habitat, Indigenous
vegetation, Stormwater management, Efficient irrigation, Massing and
orientation, Insulation levels, Glazing, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting
control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable
electricity, Benign materials, Recycled materials, Local materials,
Certified wood, C&D waste management, Occupant recycling,
Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Ventilation
effectiveness

9. IDeAs Z Squared Design Facility
(IDeAs Z2 Design Facility)
Overview
Location: San Jose, CA
Building type(s): Commercial office
Renovation of a 1960 building
6,560 ft2 (609 m2)
Project scope: 2-story building
Urban setting
Completed August 2007
IDeAs' new headquarters building was designed to meet 100% of its net energy
requirements using renewable energy from photovoltaics. The project transformed a
commonplace building—a 60s era tilt up concrete, building—into something
extraordinary for our times. It is believed to be the first commercial building in the United
States to be designed to a "Z2" energy efficiency goal; that is, net zero energy and zero
carbon emissions. The intent of the design was to be a "proof of concept" to
demonstrate how thoughtful design and a full complement of sustainable design
techniques can simultaneously achieve ultra high energy efficiency and high comfort for
occupants using current technologies while reaching net zero energy at an affordable
price. The building was fit with a fully integrated, grid-tied, net-metering, photovoltaic
system sized to provide 100% of the net energy requirements, allowing it to make zero
contribution to global warming.

10. Zero Energy Building
The IDeAs Z2 Design Facility is designed to be a carbon-neutral, net zero
energy building (ZEB). The facility is all electric. To satisfy the energy
requirements, IDeAs incorporated a photovoltaic (PV) array into the
building's footprint. Specifically, the IDeAs Facility qualifies as a:
Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when
accounted for at the site. The IDeAs building produces all of its needed
electricity through on-site PV.
Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year,
when accounted for at the source. The IDeAs Facility is considered a source
ZEB because the energy generated on-site through PV is greater than the
energy used when accounted for at the source.
Emissions (carbon) ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free
renewable energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources
annually. The renewable energy the IDeAs building produces offsets the
carbon emissions resulting from the project's operations.

11. Environmental Aspects
The building harvests daylight and uses automatic lighting controls to
reduce electric lighting energy consumption, provides outside views for
building occupants, uses occupancy sensors to turn off lights in unoccupied
spaces, uses high efficiency (plug in) office equipment and innovative
automatic controls to minimize plug loads, and provides a high-efficiency
HVAC system featuring radiant heating and cooling in the floor and a
ground-source heat pump. Finally, a 30-kW rooftop and shade canopy-
integrated photovoltaic system supplies 100% of IDeAs electricity needs.
Utilizes electrochromic glass and a photocell on the East windows to
automatically reduce solar gains when the window is exposed to direct
sunlight.
Reduces summertime solar heat gain from sliding glass doors on the South
façade via a unique sunshade constructed from laminated glass with
integral photovoltaic cells.
Utilizes waterless urinals, dual flush toilets and high efficiency faucets to
reduce water.
Reduced parking areas and replaced with drought tolerant landscaping to
reduce the heat island effect.

12. Building Programs
Indoor Spaces:
Office, Restrooms,
Lobby/reception
Outdoor Spaces: Parking,
Patio/hardscape,
Drives/roadway,
Garden—decorative
Keywords
Integrated team, Design charrette, Green specifications,
Performance measurement and verification, Efficient fixtures and
appliances, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Insulation levels,
Glazing, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight
harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity,
Salvaged materials, Recycled materials, Occupant recycling,
Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Thermal
comfort, Low-emitting materials

13. Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental
Studies--Oberlin College
(Oberlin College Lewis Center)
Overview
Location: Oberlin, OH
Building type(s): Campus, Higher education,
Library, Assembly
New construction
13,600 ft2 (1,260 m2)
Project scope: 2-story building
Other setting
Completed January 2000
Although the building opened for classes in 2000, modifications continue as the energy
performance of the building is studied and is better understood. The building is part of an
academic program and consequently has experimental aspects to it that are being
evaluated. In addition, improvements will be made as new technologies become available.
Rating: Green Building Challenge
Rating: Zero Energy Building
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies is located on the Oberlin College
campus in Oberlin, Ohio. It houses classroom and office space, an auditorium, a small
environmental studies library and resource center, a wastewater-purification system in a
greenhouse, and an open atrium.

14. Zero Energy Building
The Lewis Center is an all electric building and was designed with
maximum energy efficiency in mind. The Lewis Center generates its own
on-site electricity through a roof mounted 60 kW photovoltaic (PV) system
and a 100 kW PV system located over the parking lot. Because of this, it is a
net zero energy building (ZEB). Specifically, the Lewis Center is a:
Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year,
when accounted for at the site. The Lewis Center is an all electric building
that produces all energy on-site using PV.
Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year,
when accounted for at the source. Because the Lewis Center is an all
electric site ZEB it also qualifies as a source ZEB.
Emissions ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free
renewable energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources
annually. The Lewis Center offsets any emissions for which it is responsible
through its PV system which produces electricity with zero emissions.

15. Building Programs
Indoor Spaces:
Public assembly (65%), Lobby/reception
(30%), Classroom (30%), Other (10%),
Office (10%), Restrooms (5%), Mechanical
systems (5%), Electrical systems
Outdoor Spaces: Interpretive landscape (80%), Restored
landscape (50%), Garden—productive
(35%), Wildlife habitat (30%),
Patio/hardscape (20%), Garden—decorative
(15%), Parking (10%), Drives/roadway
(5%), Pedestrian/non-motorized vehicle path
(5%)
Keywords
Integrated team, Design charrette, Training, Green framework, Simulation, Green
specifications, Contracting, Commissioning, Performance measurement and
verification, Operations and maintenance, Wildlife habitat, Wetlands, Indigenous
vegetation, Stormwater management, Water harvesting, Efficient fixtures and
appliances, Graywater, Wastewater treatment, Massing and orientation, Insulation
levels, Glazing, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient
lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Adaptable design, Durability, Benign materials,
Salvaged materials, Recycled materials, Local materials, Certified wood, C&D waste
management, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural
ventilation, Ventilation effectiveness, Thermal comfort, Low-emitting materials, Indoor
air quality monitoring

16. Environmental Technology Center at
Sonoma State University
(Environmental Tech. Center, Sonoma
State)
Overview
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Building type(s): Laboratory, Higher education
New construction
2,200 ft2 (204 m2)
Project scope: a single building
Urban setting
Completed July 2001
Rating: Zero Energy Building
The Environmental Technology Center (ETC) is an interactive and
integrative 2,200-ft2 facility where faculty, students, and community
members can work together in research training, academic study, and
collaborative environmental projects. ETC is "a building that teaches." With
the help of the National Science Foundation, California Energy Commission,
and numerous other public and private funders, Sonoma State University
used a collaborative design process to create this example of sustainable
design.

17. Zero Energy Building
The Environmental Technology Center was designed to use 80% less energy than
buildings built to minimal compliance with California's Title 24 requirements. ETC
achieved this through the use of energy-efficient techniques such as a tight
building envelope, thermal mass, shading, and other features. ETC includes a 3-kW
rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system that is tied to the grid and is a net energy
exporter. So, this building qualifies as a net zero energy building (ZEB) in the
following areas:
Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when
accounted for at the site. ETC produces all of its needed electricity through a PV
system that is within the building’s footprint. Any natural gas used for domestic
hot water and radiant heat is also offset at the site by PV generation.
Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when
accounted for at the source. ETC is considered a source ZEB because the energy
generated on-site through PV is greater than the energy used when accounted for
at the source. .
Emissions ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free renewable
energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources annually. ETC offsets
any emissions for which it is responsible through its PV system which produces
electricity with zero emissions. .

18. Environmental Aspects
The Environmental Technology Center is a model for many sustainable building
techniques and technologies. The building includes energy- and water-efficient
landscaping, "smart building" control technologies, environmentally sensitive
building materials, passive-solar heating and cooling, advanced window systems
and daylighting, solar electric technology, and electronic control systems.
Designed to use only 20% of the energy allowed by state energy code for similar
buildings, ETC serves as a model of public sector fiscal and environmental
responsibility for California's universities and colleges. ETC was first occupied in
Spring 2001. The building occupants and visitors are not the only ones who may
benefit from this ecologically designed model building. Sonoma State University, in
collaboration with the building's architects, has compiled user-friendly Internet
resources that allow people from all over the world to learn about the sustainable
design features in ETC.
The Environmental Technology Center's purposes are to: 1) Demonstrate
sustainable building design principles and environmentally responsible living, 2)
educate design professionals, builders, facility managers, teachers, students and
members of the community about sustainability, and 3) serve as a university
classroom and community conference facility.

19. Building Programs
Indoor Spaces:
Office, Classroom,
Lobby/reception
Outdoor Spaces:
Garden—decorative,
Drives/roadway, Wildlife
habitat
Keywords
Integrated team, Stormwater management, Efficient irrigation, Drought-
tolerant landscaping, Massing and orientation, Insulation levels, Passive
solar, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, On-site renewable
electricity, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation,
Ventilation effectiveness, Thermal comfort, Low-emitting materials

20. Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
Overview
Location: Baraboo, WI
Climate Region: 6A: Cold - Humid
Building type(s): Interpretive Center, Commercial
office
New construction
11,900 ft2 (1,100 m2)
Project scope: 3 1-story buildings
Rural setting
Completed April 2007
Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC,
v.2/v.2.1--Level: Platinum (61 points)
Rating: Zero Energy Building
Published in 1949 as the finale to A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic"
set the stage for the modern conservation movement. Leopold's philosophy included
the belief that the idea of community should be enlarged to include, in his words,
"collectively: the land." This includes nonhuman elements such as soils, waters, plants,
and animals.
The headquarters for the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the Legacy Center includes office
and meeting spaces, an interpretive hall, an archive, and a workshop organized around
a central courtyard. Built where Leopold died fighting a brush fire in 1948, the Legacy
Center also provides a trailhead to the original Leopold Shack.

21. Zero Energy Building
The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center is a carbon-neutral, net zero energy building
(ZEB). Because of the efficient building techniques used, the Legacy Center
requires very little energy. The Legacy Center’s 39.6-kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV)
array produces roughly 10% more than the energy needed to operate the building
over the course of a year. Specifically, the Legacy Center qualifies as a:
Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when
accounted for at the site. The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center produces all of its
needed electricity through on-site PV. It does burn wood in the winter for heat,
but this resource is harvested locally and is a renewable resource used on-site.
Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when
accounted for at the source. The Legacy Center is considered a source ZEB because
the energy generated on-site through PV and wood is greater than the energy
used when accounted for at the source.
Emissions (carbon) ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free
renewable energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources annually. The
excess renewable energy the Legacy Center produces, along with on-site carbon
sequestration through its forested land, offsets the carbon emissions resulting
from the project's operations.

22. Environmental Aspects
The Foundation located the project on a previously disturbed site, which it is restoring
to native ecosystems. The project team used crushed gravel in place of blacktop or
concrete paving, increasing rainwater infiltration and blending the developed areas
into the surrounding landscape.
The native landscaping requires no irrigation. Waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and
efficient faucets reduce water consumption by 65%. An on-site well provides potable
water, and an existing septic system treats wastewater.
Thinning the Leopold forests improved forest health while providing 90,000 board feet
of wood for use in the project. More than 75% of all wood used in the project was
certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards, and 60% of all materials were
manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
The Legacy Center was designed to use 70% less energy than a comparable
conventional building. A 39.6-kW rooftop photovoltaic array produces more than 110%
of the project's annual electricity needs. This excess renewable energy, along with on-
site carbon sequestration, offsets the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the
project's operations.
Daylighting eliminates the need for electric lighting during most of the day. Ground-
source heat pumps connected to a radiant slab provide heating and cooling, and an
earth-tube system provides tempered fresh air.

23. Keywords
Integrated team, Green framework, Simulation, Green specifications,
Commissioning, Performance measurement and verification, Operations and
maintenance, Wildlife habitat, Indigenous vegetation, Efficient fixtures and
appliances, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Massing and orientation, Insulation
levels, Glazing, Airtightness, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight
harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Durability, Benign
materials, Salvaged materials, Recycled materials, Local materials, Certified
wood, C&D waste management, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors,
Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Ventilation effectiveness, Moisture control,
Low-emitting materials