Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)
Given buildings accounts for 40% of energy use in the U.S., the adoption of high-performance “green” building technologies and practices is essential to the economic vitality of the nation – and your business.
What is a Net-Zero Energy Building? A building that produces as much energy as it consumes. The core of the Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) vision is a holistic approach for energy and resource use to enable buildings to be energy self-sufficient.
How is that possible? Studies have found that energy efficiency technologies can reduce building energy consumption by 30-50%, and if integrated into the whole building design, a 70% reduction may be possible. On-site generation via renewable energy technologies would make up the balance to achieve 100% self-sufficiency.
There’s now a body of research to support these Energy Performance goals. One recent study indicated that integrated, performance-based programs have led to operational savings of 40% (for green retrofits) and 75% (in renovations). Other case studies indicate that energy consumption for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning can be reduced by 20% just by detecting mechanical faults and ensuring that the systems are operating correctly. For details, check out this report on Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings.
Where do Energy Management Systems come in? Energy Management Systems provide the improved resource measurement essential to an NZEB program. Energy monitoring systems can identify operational issues at the onset, then with persistent monitoring, provide on-going verification of how building system upgrades and retro-commissioning measures are performing in day-to-day operations.
New performance measurement technologies enable owners and occupants to see real-time energy consumption segregated by end uses, such as plug loads, lighting, and major appliances.
The key to realizing these improvements is new measurement technologies such as sensors, with performance analysis tools that can interact with building systems to detect and correct inefficiencies.
Is that what Agilewaves does? Precisely – the Agilewaves system is an Energy Management System with advanced energy monitoring and resource management capabilities. The rigorous metrics generated by the Agilewaves Building Optimization System (BOStm) provide the foundation for informed energy use decisions – for daily operations or planning equipment upgrades or retro-commissioning projects.
Learn More About Net-Zero Buildings and Other Key Studies
- Net-Zero Energy, High Performance Green Buildings (National Science & Technology Council, October 2008)
- Dept of Energy: Net-Zero Energy Buildings Initiative
- Building Commissioning & Monitoring for Reducing Energy Costs (July 2009)
