What is a Zero Energy Building?

1. A net zero energy building can be defined as a building in which total

amount of energy used is equal to amount of renewable energy
created on the site
2. Means to reduce carbon emissions & reduce dependence on fossil fuels
3. Buildings that produce a surplus of energy over the year are called
“Energy Surplus Buildings”
4. During the last 20 years more than 200 reputable projects
claiming net zero energy balance have been realized all over
the world which extensively utilize the renewable energy
sources to earn the tag of ZEB.
Project Aim :-
ABSTRACT
A zero-energy building, also known as a zero net energy (ZNE) building, net-zero
energy building (NZEB), or net zero building, is a building with zero net energy
consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is
roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site or in other
definitions by renewable energy sources elsewhere. These buildings consequently
contribute less overall greenhouse gas to the atmosphere than similar non-ZNE
buildings. They do at times consume non-renewable energy and produce greenhouse
gases, but at other times reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas
production elsewhere by the same amount. Traditional buildings consume 40% of the
total fossil fuel energy in all over the world and are significant contributors of greenhouse
gases.The zero net energy consumption principle is viewed as a means to reduce
carbon emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and although zero- energy buildings
remain unco
 Literature Review
The following is a review of literature related to ZEB definitions and
research projects. There viewed literature is divided into a number of main important
topics for the discussion of ZEB definitions.

1. Energy focus

Total energy demand in the building is a sum of thermal and electricity demand;
however, many studies focus only on one demand neglecting the other. This issue
is raised by Able, (1994): “Many low-energy building projects seem to have been based on
the idea 'decrease heat supply at any cost'. In some cases, this has resulted in 'zero-
energy buildings' which, it is true, do not need any heat supply but do, instead, indirectly
need electricity, e.g., to operate the heat pump included in the system.”
2 . Energy Supply system

The scientific publications focus either on off-grid ZEBs or on-grid ZEB. The main
difference between those two approaches is that, the off-grid ZEB does not have
any connection to the energy infrastructure, thus it does not purchase energy from any
external sources, and the boundaries for the balance calculations are within the
building. The on-grid ZEB, in the literature also named “net zero” or “grid
connected”, is the energy producing building connected to one or more energy
infrastructures; electricity grid, district heating and cooling system, gas pipe
network, biomass and bio fuels distribution networks. Therefore, it is has a
possibility for both buying and selling energy from/to the utility grid. This division
is also well noticeable in the ZEB definitions.
 3. Renewable energy options
In a ZEB definition it is necessary to define the supply- side of the renewable
energy sources. According to Torcellini, (2006) there are two options: on-site
supply or off-site supply. Within the on-site supply authors distinguish building
footprint and building site. Within the off-site supply the building either uses
RES available off-site to produce energy on-site, or purchase off-site RES.
TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION DIAGRAM
 ZEB CONCEPTS

Net Zero Site Energy

Net Zero Source Energy
Net Zero Energy Emissions
Sun Carrier Omega in Bhopal is the first company
to bring to India the Sun Tracking Intelligent Solar
PV System, which generates about 40% more
energy than fixed systems.

Sun Carrier Omega has commissioned India's first

commercial Net-Zero Energy Building
 Bayer Material Science
building in Greater Noida
 Akshay urja bhavan panchkula
• The Department of Renewable Energy/HAREDA, has constructed its office building
“Akshay Urja Bhawan” on an institutional plot measuring one Acre, at sector 17
Panchkula.
• This building is being constructed based on solar passive design techniques having
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system of 42.50 KW capacity, Solar Chimney,
evaporative cooling, cavity walls, Use of Fly ash based bricks water recycling and Energy
Efficient Lighting etc.
Buildings are the Largest Energy Consumer
Components of Zero Energy Buildings

Wind Effect Stack Effect Combustion and Ventilation

Building's orientation on the site, window and

Plantations On The Roof Insulation on walls and using
Light colored roof
 Comparison

Economical comparison
shows that wind energy is
most economical amongst
all renewable resources
mentioned in the graph.
 Design Methodology Weather Data Analyses
• Construction & lab experiments are
costly • Primary step
• Computer Simulations are convenient &
quick Wind frequency profile
• Very low cost
• EnergyPlus and TRNSYS 16.0 are used

• EnergyPlus models hourly energy

consumption
• TRNSYS is widely applied for both energy
efficiency and renewable energy analyses

• EnergyPlus simulations are used for

building envelope design
• TRANSYS is used for building systems and
renewable energy systems design
 Building systems
Solar hot water
system
 The Indira Paryavaran Bhavan.
• India’s first Net zero energy building
• Constructed with adoption of solar passive design and energy-efficient building materials.
• Building boasts an earthquake-resistant structure with a total plinth area of 31,488 sq. m.
• More than 50 per cent area outside the building is a soft area with plantation and grass.
• The building has a robotic parking system in the basement that can accommodate 330 cars.
• Thin-client networking system has been provided instead of conventional desktop
computers to minimize energy consumption.
• Design allows for 75% of natural daylight to be utilized to reduce energy consumption.
• Installed capacity of 930 kW peak power, the building has the largest rooftop solar system
among multi-storied buildings in India.
• Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar showcased the building to United Nations
secretary general Ban Ki-moon on 13/1/15
• Total energy savings of about 40 per cent through the adoption of energy efficient
chilled beam system of air-conditioning
• Air-conditioning is done by convection currents rather than airflow through air handling
units, and chilled water is circulated right up to the diffuser points unlike the conventional
systems.
• UPVC windows with hermetically sealed double glass. Calcium Silicate ceiling tiles with
high recyclable content and grass paver blocks on pavements and roads, renewable
bamboo jute for door-frame, fly ash bricks
• Reduction in water consumption has been achieved by use of low-discharge water
fixtures, recycling of waste water through sewage treatment plant, use of plants with low
water demand in landscaping, use of geothermal cooling for HVAC system, rainwater
harvesting and use of curing compounds during construction.
Architectural design of the building is primarily based on following concepts
• Preservation of maximum possible number of trees standing over the site
• Solar Passive Architecture with proper orientation and shading.
• Appropriate building envelope design with envelope insulation to reduce heat
intake
• Use of permanent, durable and local materials such as sand stone on exterior face,
low heat transmission glass and reflective roofing
• Priority for pedestrians in the front, with vehicular access on the sides of the
building
• Reduction of conventional lighting load by ensuring 75% day-light use
• Natural ventilation due to stack effect
• The building is designed in such a way that there is free ventilation across the entire
building
 Energy Conservation Measures:
• Utilization of High Efficiency Solar Panels to achieve Net Zero criteria
• Energy efficient T-5 and LED fixtures
• Innovative chilled beam system for cooling
• Pre-cooling of fresh air from exhaust using heat recovery wheel in order to reduce load
on chiller plant
• Water cooled chillers
• Geo thermal heat exchange technology used for heat rejection from Air-conditioning
system
• Innovative energy saving regenerative lifts which have been installed for the first time in
government institutional building
 Zero energy building versus green
building
• The goal of green building and sustainable architecture is to use resources more efficiently and
reduce a building's negative impact on the environment.
• Zero energy buildings achieve one key green-building goal of completely or very significantly
reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for the life of the building.
• Zero energy buildings may or may not be considered "green" in all areas, such as reducing waste,
using recycled building materials etc
 Conclusion
•Solar and Wind energy will be the major contributor
of renewable energy for ZEB’s owing to their
widespread availability.

•Biogas can also be used for our energy needs but its
only constraint is that it needs huge quantity of
waste and it is also not feasible everywhere.

•Geothermal energy is an upcoming form of energy

having great potential to generate electricity but a
lot of research still has to be done to tap into its full
potential.
THANK YOU