Achieving Net Zero Requires Innovative Thinking
The days of discouraging ‘high-risk’ behavior by system designers must end BY MARK S. LENTZ, PE, LENTZ ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WIS. If a building owner has enough money for renewable-energy systems and the space to install them, any designer can achieve net-zero performance. Achieving net-zero performance economically, however, is a different matter. Although the [...]
Achieving Net Zero With Geothermal Systems
A Net Zero Building Has A Neutral Carbon Footprint, Uses Only Renewable Energy, And Is Net Zero In Terms Of Energy, Water, And Waste. Geothermal Systems Are One Option To Achieving This Net Zero Goal. by William Jarema, PE, EwingCole, Philadelphia The Dept. of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has established aggressive energy goals for new [...]
Zero-energy buildings: The trend continues
Zero-energy buildings: The trend continues The number of buildings that take no more energy than they provide continues to grow. The concept of a net-zero energy building isn’t exactly new. Over the past 10 years several examples have been developed around the U.S., many of which come in at well under 10,000 square feet. But, [...]
Back To The Future: The Smart Energy District
Back To The Future: A Smart Energy District Solar Technology and Sustainable Design & Development The Historic Green Village at Anna Maria Background Today’s power industry is built around centralized generation, transmission and distribution of electricity utilizing primarily coal, natural gas and uranium as fuel sources. For several years, a new model for more distributed [...]
Senate Legislation Calls for Zero-Net-Energy Buildings by 2030
A Bi-Partisan Congressional Effort Lands the 2030 Challenge Targets Back on the Senate Floor The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011 was introduced yesterday by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The bill places meeting the 2030 Challenge target of zero-net-energy for new buildings by 2030 as the first item in a comprehensive strategy for U.S. energy reductions in [...]
