Solution Sets for Net-Zero Energy Buildings
Feedback from 30 Buildings worldwide
April 2017
Editor: Garde, Francois / Ayoub, Josef / Aelenei, Daniel / Aelenei, Laura / Scognamiglio, Alessandra
Publisher: Ernst & Sohn: A Wiley Brand
ISBN: 978-3-433-03072-1
Order - 79.00 EUR
Net Zero-Energy Buildings have been the object of numerous studies in recent years as various countries have set this performance level as a long-term goal of their energy policies. This book presents a unique study of 30 NZEBs that have been constructed and have had their performance measured for at least 12 months. The study is based upon an international collaborative research initiated by the International Energy Agency - the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC). It is the first book to evaluate building strategies in houses, educational buildings and offices that have been demonstrated to work in practice. It examines how the design challenges of climate and building type have been addressed, and to what extent the various design approaches have been successful. This book presents convincing evidence that a careful re-thinking of conventional design norms can achieve a far greater performance benefit than is normally feasible. It identifies `solution sets? that work at the whole building level and at the individual building design challenge level for each climate and building type. In doing so, the book provides guidance as to how to improve the design by learning from these cases.

Task 40: What Market Adoption of NetZEBs Need
May 2015 - PDF 0.08MB
Editor: Pamela Murphy
To mainstream market adoption of NetZEBs, what is needed is a wide consensus on clear definitions and agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform “zero energy” building policies, programs and industry building practices, as well as design tools, case studies and demonstrations that would support industry adoption.

Modelling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings
March 2015
Editor: William O'Brien
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 978-3-433-03083-7

Building energy design is currently going through a period of major changes. One key factor of this is the adoption of net-zero energy as a long term goal for new buildings in most developed countries. To achieve this goal a lot of research is needed to accumulate knowledge and to utilize it in practical applications. In this book, accomplished international experts present advanced modeling techniques as well as in-depth case studies in order to aid designers in optimally using simulation tools for net-zero energy building design. The strategies and technologies discussed in this book are, however, also applicable for the design of energy-plus buildings. This book was facilitated by International Energy Agency?s Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Programme and the Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC) Programme through the joint SHC Task 40/EBC Annex 52: Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings R&D collaboration.

Development of an energy evaluation methodology to make multiplepredictions of the HVAC&R system energy demand for office buildings
May 2014 - PDF 4.88MB
HVAC&R systems are the most energy consuming building services, representing approximately half of the final energy use in the building sector. Despite their significant energy use, there is a lack of a consistent and homogeneous framework to efficiently guide research, mainly due to the complexity and variety of HVAC&R systems, but also to insufficient rigor in their energy analysis. Quantifying the energy consumption characteristics of HVAC&R system is complicated, because the energy savings provided by this system depend on various factors. This research evaluates energy consumption characteristics of HVAC&R systems, with the aim of establishing a common idea for the analysis of building energy efficiency. The objective of this study is to develop an energy evaluation methodology and a simple simulation program that may be used by engineers and designers to assess the effectiveness and economic benefits of HVAC&R systems. Our approach deals with the concept of HVAC&R system energy use aggregation levels that are composed of subsystems. To carry out a techno-economical estimation of HVAC&R systems considering different types of subsystems, the matrix combination analyzed, and a total of 960 HVAC&R systems can be implemented for a large-scale office building. The methodology of energy analysis that was carried out in this study highlights how to plan and design toward utilizing the most effective HVAC&R systems.

Solution Sets and Net Zero Energy Buildings: A review of 30 Net ZEBs case studies worldwide
A report of Subtask C
May 2014 - PDF 11.74MB
This technical report gives a review of 30 fully documented net ZEBs case studies that have been identified by the Sub Task C participants. It reports a compilation of all technical and non-technical information of the 30 case studies that formed the foundation on which the analysis of Volume 3 of the Source Book was based.

Task 40 Highlights 2013
Towards Net-­-Zero Energy Solar Buildings
February 2014 - PDF 0.18MB
Energy use in buildings worldwide accounts for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions. Several International Energy Agency (IEA) countries have adopted a vision of so-called ‘net zero energy buildings’ as a longterm goal of their energy policies. However, what is missing is a clear definition and international agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform 'zero energy’ building policies, programs and industry adoption around the world.

Evaluation Tool for Net Zero Energy Buildings: Application on Office Buildings
March 2013 - PDF 0.29MB

Within the research project “IEA SHC Task 40 – ECBCS Annex 52: Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings” an excel-based tool was developed to assess balance, operating costs and load match index for predefined selected Net ZEB definitions [1]. The tool can be of assistance for different stakeholders, including building designers (evaluation of building design solutions with respect to different Net ZEB definitions), energy managers (assess the balance in monitored buildings) and policy makers (assist in the upcoming implementation process of Net ZEBs within the national normative framework).

Task 40 Highlights 2012
January 2013 - PDF 0.54MB

Energy use in buildings worldwide accounts for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions. Several International Energy Agency (IEA) countries have adopted a vision of so-called ‘net zero energy buildings’ as a long-term goal of their energy policies. However, what is missing is a clear definition and international agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform ‘zero energy’ building policies, programs and industry adoption around the world.

Net Zero Energy Building
Living and Working with an Equalised Energy Balance
October 2011
Publisher: Detail.de
ISBN: ISBN 978-3-920034-80-5
Order - 49.00 EUR
Strategies and experiences from the perspective of planners and users: Net zero energy buildings, equilibrium buildings or carbon neutral cities – depending on location and the reasons for making the calculation, the numbers are run differently. The variety of terms in use indicates that a scientific method is still lacking – which is a problem not just in regard to international ommunication, but also with respect to planning processes as a response to energy challenges. The clarification and meaning of the most important terms in use is extremely important for their implementation.

Montreal PhD Summer Workshop on Net-Zero Energy Solar Buildings: Theory, Modelling, and Design
June 20-25, 2011
June 2011 - PDF 1.31MB
This the actual program for the Montreal PhD Summer Workshop on Net-Zero Energy Solar Buildings: Theory, Modelling, and Design. The program includes welcome, workshop schedule, participant list and speaker bios.

Nullenergie Gebäude
2011
Vol.1 Net Zero Energy source book in German-language

Towards Net Zero Energy
ECBCS Annex 52 Factsheet
2010 - PDF 3.49MB
The objectives of the project ‘Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings’ are to study current net zero, near net zero and very low energy buildings and to develop a common understanding of a harmonised international definitions framework, tools, innovative solutions and industry guidelines. To achieve these objectives the project will document and propose demonstrations of practical net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) with convincing architectural quality.

Net Zero-Energy Buildings – Map of International Projects
Task 40: Map Project
January 2010

A research group within the IEA’s “Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings” project has analysed and evaluated the conceptual approaches and performance of almost 300 net zero-energy and energy-plus buildings worldwide. This Google Maps view presents and provides links for sample projects from around the world along with basic project data.

Annex Final Revised: Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings
February 2009 - PDF 0.1MB
Energy use in buildings worldwide accounts for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions1. Energy use and emissions include both direct, on-site use of fossil fuels as well as indirect use from electricity2, district heating/cooling systems and embodied energy in construction materials.

Towards Net Zero Energy
IEA SHC /ECBCS Project Factsheet
PDF 1.87MB
Energy Use in buildings worldwide accounts for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy use and emissions include both direct, on site use of fossil-fuels and indirect use from electricity, district heating / cooling systems and embodied energy in construction materials. Several International Energy Agency (IEA) countries have adopted a vision of so-called ‘net zero energy buildings’ as longterm goal of their energy policies. However, what is missing is a clear definition and international agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform ‘zero energy’ building policies, programmes and industry adoption around the world.