Zero Energy Goals

US Department of Energy

In support of the nation working toward greater energy independence and a cleaner environment, the Building Technologies Program embraces the strategic goal of developing net-zero energy buildings to reduce national energy demand. On this page you'll find information about the program's zero energy goals, including what defines a net-zero energy building and current projects.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/goals.html

 

Builders Challenge

U.S. Department of Energy

The Builders Challenge provides a flexible, turnkey solution to builders wishing to excel in energy and quality performance in their markets:

• The EnergySmart Home ScaleSM (E-Scale) provides an "MPG" display of superior energy performance.
• Builders Challenge Quality Criteria ensure energy efficiency is implemented in a manner that also addresses durability, comfort, and indoor air quality.
• Technical resources increase skills for high performance, high-quality homes.
• Marketing tools and resources help gain recognition for excellence.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/

 

Energy Star Homes

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.hm_index

 

Very Low Energy Homes in the United States: Perspectives on Performance from Measured Data

Danny Parker, FSEC

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/pdf/FSEC-RR-302-08.pdf
We present measured annual performance data from a dozen recent-vintage very low
energy homes in North America. Many of the designs combine greater energy efficiency
with solar electric photovoltaic power in an attempt to create Zero Energy Homes (ZEH).
We also provide measured data from the first home constructed to the German Passivhaus
standard in the United States. Several projects either exceeded or come very close to true
net zero energy when evaluated over a year.

The Energy Policy Pyramid -
A Hierarchal Tool For Decision Makers

Robin K. Vieira, 
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

Policies of dealing with energy programs are often misdirected. Decision makers jump first to fuel substitution to either lower emissions or counter fuel price escalation. When it comes to both return on short-term economic investment and long-term sustainability for the economy and environment, there is a clear hierarchy. This paper presents the hierarchy as The Energy Policy Pyramid©. 
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-PF-401-06/index.htm

 

Preliminary Performance Evaluation of a Near Zero Energy Home in Gainesville, Florida

Danny Parker, David Hoak, Subrato Chandra and Eric Martin, FSEC

The performance summary on a near zero energy home (NZEH) presented here was a result of
collaboration between the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), the Florida H.E.R.O., an innovative
developer and builder in Gainesville, Florida under the auspices of the U.S. DOE sponsored Building
America Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP) project.  This paper briefly reviews the design and
then focuses on the first half year energy performance of the project home during the second half of 2008.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/pdf/FSEC-CR-1792-09.pdf

 

Priorities for Energy Efficiency for Home Construction in Florida

Danny Parker and Robin Vieira

We provide the priorities for obtaining an energy efficient building in Florida. The options are listed in order of importance
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-GP-66/index.htm

Cooling Performance Assessment of Building America Homes

Dave Chasar, Subrato Chandra, Danny Parker, John Sherwin, David Beal, David Hoak, Neil Moyer, Janet Mcilvaine, FSEC

An evaluation of measured cooling performance is presented with data from nine homes in three climates.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/pdf/FSEC-CR-1673-06.pdf

 

Field Evaluation of Efficient Building Technology with Photovoltaic Power Production in New Florida Residential Housing

Danny S. Parker, James P. Dunlop, John R. Sherwin, Stephen F. Barkaszi, Jr., Michael P. Anello, Steve Durand, Donard Metzger, Jeffrey K. Sonne
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

Two single family homes - one, a super efficient residence with a utility interactive photovoltaic (PV) system, and another, a control home - have been constructed in Lakeland, Florida. The PV residence, or PVRES, was constructed with many measures designed to make it more efficient (Fig. E-1). These include a white tile reflective roof system, solar control windows with wide overhangs, an interior duct system, a high efficiency air conditioning system, efficient lighting, and propane used for major appliances which commonly use resistance electricity (range, dryer and heat). A solar water heater with propane back up provides domestic hot water. For comparison, a building with an identical floor plan, but without the efficiency features, has been constructed to test the concept.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-CR-1044-98/index.htm

 

Solar Photovoltaic Air Conditioning of Residential Buildings

Danny S. Parker and James P. Dunlop
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

This paper describes a novel approach whereby the building, air conditioning and PV systems are simultaneously optimized to provide maximum solar cooling fraction for a minimum array size.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-RR-118-94/index.htm

 

The Proven Benefits of Near Zero Energy Homes at Premier Gardens

Building Industry Research Alliance

In 2004, Premier Garden’s Near Zero Energy Homes (ZEHs) and Cresleigh Rosewood’s Non ZEHs were built side-by-side, providing BIRA the opportunity to evaluate two large scale communities of occupied single-family homes. BIRA, working closely with key partners, has collected and analyzed electricity (provided by SMUD) and gas data (provided by PG&E), analyzed buyer demographics (studied and reported by RAND), and evaluated the efficacy of ZEH system components (SMUD’s detailed monitoring of 18 Near ZEHs). The Premier Gardens community has demonstrated the impact Near Zero Energy Homes have on multiple stakeholders, beyond the homeowner.
http://www.bira.ws/benefits-zero-energy-homes.php

 

Moving Towards Zero Energy Homes: Building America Home Powers Up in North Texas

U.S. Department of Energy

At the first-of-its-kind Zero Energy Home in North Texas, energy-efficient technology and science are not thrown into and onto the home, but are integrated into every aspect of the home’s design, walls, and equipment. Early in the design process, Sargent decided to make it a Building America project, and became a Building Science Consortium partner. A full-day design charrette in Westford, Massachusetts, became the first step in ensuring that this Zero Energy Home would be a systems-engineered expression of age-old and cutting- edge architecture and building science.
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/36944.pdf
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/rr-0414-the-anderson-sargent-dallas-show-house-a-case-study/view?searchterm=texas%20zero%20energy%20home

 

Jeff Christian: Zero Sum Gain

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

In 2002, when the Department of Energy introduced the daunting concept of a house that would produce as much energy as it used, Christian seized the challenge and has not let go. Guided by the belief that energy-efficient homes should be affordable to working families, he partnered with the Habitat for Humanity in neighboring Lenoir City, building five homes to test the latest in renewable energy producing and energy-efficient technologies. The homes feature such as solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, airtight super insulated walls and roofing panels and advanced ventilation systems. They demonstrate that such technologies, when properly integrated, work in real-life environments with regular people who can then benefit from the resulting cost savings.
http://www.ornl.gov/ornlhome/news_items/news_070803.shtml

 

Net-Zero Energy Home Generating an Energy Surplus

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

In 2005, NREL and Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver collaborated to build an affordable and sustainable Net-Zero Energy model home that would generate as much energy as it consumes. Three years later, the project is exceeding expectations.
http://www.nrel.gov/features/20080801_habitat.html

 

RESNET

The Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET®) mission is to ensure the success of the building energy performance certification industry, set the standards of quality, and increase the opportunity for ownership of high performance buildings.
http://www.natresnet.org/

 

GREEN HOME BUILDING PROGRAMS

LEED for Homes

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED) for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban low-rise apartments, urban high-rise apartments and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings
http://www.greenhomeguide.org/green_home_programs/LEED_for_homes.html

 

National Green Building Standard

The National Green Building Stnadard is the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive American National Standards Institute approval. The four threshold levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald - allow builders to achieve entry-level green building, or the highest level of sustainable "green" building incorporating energy savings of 60% or more. Single-family & multi-unit homes, residential remodeling projects, and site developments are all covered in the Standard
http://www.nahbgreen.org/Guidelines/ansistandard.aspx

 

Local Green Home Building Programs

This site provides links to programs throughout the country:
http://www.greenhomeguide.org/green_home_programs/other_green_homebuilding_programs.html

 

Florida Green Building Coalition

The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment. Our mission is "to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes, and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits."
http://www.floridagreenbuilding.org/db/