Zero Net Energy Buildings

 

A zero-net-energy building (ZNE), also known as a zero-energy building (ZEB), net-zero energy building (NZEB), or net zero building, is a building with zero net energy consumption, which commonly means, the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of energy generated by renewable energy resources, either distributed or remote. Renewable energy resources (RERs) are either on-site, and called distributed energy resources (DERs), or remote and located off-site and provide the building energy services through power purchase agreements, energy savings performance contracts.

 

Low Net Energy Buildings

 

Low net-energy building, or nearly zero-net-energy buildings (nZNE, nZEB) provide similar energy performance, but due to building fundamentals, site constraints, and cost, have higher comfort levels using slightly higher energy consumption levels than comparable buildings. Depending on building fundamentals and building use, there are not always risk adjusted economic returns with

 

Energy Plus Buildings

 

In some circumstances, Energy-Plus Buildings, buildings that generate more power than the energy that they consume, and either export power to neighboring buildings, are part of micro-grids that service a specific community, export power back to the central electrical grid, or participate in energy market events and demand response programs. Further, buildings can participate and interact with electrical vehicle fleets by using building energy to charge electric vehicles.

 

Zero-net-energy buildings, nearly zero-net-energy buildings, and energy-plus buildings all have attractive benefits and are designed to maintain comfort levels for their tenants.

 

Off-Grid & On-Grid Buildings

 

Buildings can further be categorized as off-grid or on-grid, depending if they are connected to, and purchase electricity from the central electric grid. Most buildings maintain their on-grid connectivity and typically interact with the central electrical grid in case-by-case, specific ways at different times of the day, month, and year. Buildings use energy performance strategies and work in concert with available technologies to interact with the central electrical grid as 1) a customer, 2) for back-up power, or 3) energy storage for follow-on use.