Net Zero Energy Building
Predicted and Unintended Consequences

What do we mean by net zero energy? Zero operating energy? Zero energy costs? Zero emissions? There is no one answer: approaches to net zero building vary widely across the globe and are influenced by different environmental and cultural contexts.

Net Zero Energy Building: Predicted and Unintended Consequences presents a comprehensive overview of variations in 'net zero' building practices. Drawing on examples from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, and China, Ming Hu examines diverse approaches to net zero and reveals their intended and unintended consequences.

Existing approaches often focus on operating energy: how to make buildings more efficient by reducing the energy consumed by climate control, lighting, and appliances. Hu goes beyond this by analyzing overall energy consumption and environmental impact across the entire life cycle of a building?ranging from the manufacture of building materials to transportation, renovation, and demolition. Is net zero building still achievable once we look at these factors?

With clear implications for future practice, this is key reading for professionals in building design, architecture, and construction, as well as students on sustainable and green architecture courses.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Preface

Chapter One: The Evolution of Net-Zero Energy Building

Background and ecological origin – ecological economics

1930-1969 Early Solar House

1970-1989 First energy crisis and the emerge of net-zero energy building

1990-2006 Second Energy Crisis and The Consensus of Net-Zero Energy Building

2076-2010 Finical Crisis and Rapid Development of Net-Zero Energy Building

2010–2016 Financial Recovery and Blooming Net-Zero Energy Building

2017–Beyond Net-Zero Energy Building

Conclusion

Chapter Two: Principles of Zero: Metrics and Assessment

Existing Definition of Net-Zero Energy Building

The equation behind the definitions

Existing energy calculation method

Metrics and Measurement Tools

Conclusion

Chapter Three: Predicted Impact of Net Zero Building

Trends and Opportunities

Direct Benefits of Net-Zero Building

Indirect Benefits

Culture-Social Shift – Impact on Community

Conclusion

Chapter Four: Unintended Consequences Net Zero Building – from a life cycle perspective

Net Energy and Its Ecological Economics Origin

Unintended Consequence One: environmental impact associated with embodied energy

Unintended Consequence Two: societal impact - more sprawl and green life style?

Unintended Consequence Three: ecological degradation

Conclusion

Chapter Five: Future Drivers and Economics

Environmental Drivers

Regulatory Drivers: mandates, regulations and incentives

Human Health Drivers

Technology Drivers

Economic Drivers

Conclusion

Chapter Six: Advanced Building Materials and Systems- Smart Green Building

Nanomaterial

Phase Changing Material

Smart Systems: Advanced Building Envelope Fabric Materials

Conclusion

Chapter Seven: Zero-Impact Building – new framework based on life cycle assessment

Problems of Existing net zero definition

Additional Impact Indicators

Proposed definition of net zero impact building – from life cycle perspective

Proposed measurement and evaluation framework for net zero impact building

Conclusion

Chapter Eight: Future Development – A Case Study

Introduction

Carbon Neutral Built Environment and City

Three Case Studies

Conclusion

Ming Hu is an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, USA. She teaches technology courses which focus on the integration of architectural design with structural, materials, and building performance assessment. She is an architectural practitioner, educator, and researcher with expertise in high-performance building design, life cycle assessment, building performance measurement, and benchmarking. She has more than 14 years’ experience of working on international high-profile projects in firms including HOK’s Washington, DC office. Her background includes training in the architectural discipline and years of practice across disciplines, which gives her a unique perspective and ability to weave these fields together in her research.