EFS Chapter 8 Whole Building to Zero Net Energy

Whole building energy

A comprehensive approach to building energy that considers all aspects of energy use, including heating, cooling, appliances, and lighting.

Green Building movement

A movement focused on designing and constructing buildings that are environmentally friendly and promote occupant health.

Whole building life cycle

The consideration of health, embodied energy and materials, and waste management in the design and construction of buildings.

Building envelope

The physical boundary of a building that separates the interior from the exterior, including walls, roof, and windows.

HVAC

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that control the temperature, humidity, and air quality in a building.

Primary energy

The energy that is directly extracted from natural resources, such as fossil fuels or renewable sources, before it is converted into a usable form.

Embodied energy

The energy consumed during the extraction, processing, manufacture, construction, and demolition of buildings and their component materials.

Green Building rating systems

Guidelines and standards that assess the environmental performance of buildings and provide certification based on specific criteria.

Demand response

A strategy that adjusts electricity usage in response to changes in demand or price signals, often using wireless controls.

Zero net energy buildings (ZNEBs)

Buildings that produce as much energy as they consume over a given period, typically through on-site generation from renewable sources.

Whole community energy

A broader perspective that considers the role of buildings in community-scale energy, transportation energy, and land use.

Whole Building to Zero Net Energy

The goal of achieving zero net energy in a building, where the total amount of energy used by the building is equal to the amount of renewable energy generated on-site.

Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA)

An organization formed in 1915 in response to the need for fire and electrical safety regulations in buildings.

California Energy Resources Conservation Act

A law enacted in 1974 that established the first appliance energy standards in California.

ASHRAE Standard 90-1975

A standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers in 1975, which later split into 90.1 (commercial) and 90.2 (single-family residential) versions.

California Title 24

A comprehensive and stringent energy building code in California, first consolidated in 1978 and revised on a triennial schedule.

Model Energy Code (MEC)

A code developed by the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) and the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) in the 1980s to promote energy efficiency in buildings.

ENERGY STAR program

A program established in 1985 by Austin Energy in Texas to label appliances and buildings that meet minimum efficiency standards.

U.S

An organization established in 1993 to promote environmentally responsible and energy-efficient buildings.

International Code Council (ICC)

An organization formed in 1994 to coordinate building code activities.

Passivhaus Institute

An institute founded in Germany in 1996 to promote super-efficient building design standards.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

A model code developed by the International Code Council (ICC) in 1998 to replace the Model Energy Code (MEC).

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

A certification and rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote sustainable building design and operation.

ISO 14000 standards

A set of international standards established in 1996 for energy management systems, environmental auditing, and life-cycle assessment.

Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)

An organization established in 2007 to adapt European Passivhaus principles and standards to U.S. climate zones.

California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen)

A code approved in 2008 to promote green building practices in California.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

A directive enacted by the European Union in 2010 to require member states to ensure that all new buildings are "nearly zero energy buildings" by 2020.

PHIUS+2015 Climate-Specific Passive Building Standard

A standard launched in 2015 by PHIUS for high-performance, climate-specific passive buildings in North America.

ASHRAE 90.1 2016 Energy Efficiency Standard

A standard approved by ASHRAE in 2016 for energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

Whole Building to Zero Net Energy

The concept of designing and constructing buildings that produce as much energy as they consume over the course of a year.

Virtuous cycle

A process in which improvements in energy efficiency and environmental impact lead to the development of new technologies, which are then reflected in ratings, the market, and regulatory codes.

Energy rating systems

Systems such as ENERGY STAR and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) that assess the energy efficiency of buildings and provide ratings based on their performance.

Regulatory codes

Standards and regulations that set minimum requirements for energy use in buildings.

Embodied energy

The energy consumed during the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and construction of building materials.

Thermal energy efficiency

The ability of a building to retain and efficiently use heat energy for heating and cooling purposes.

Green Building rating systems

Rating systems that evaluate the sustainability and environmental performance of buildings.

Whole community energy

The concept of considering the energy needs and efficiency of an entire community, including buildings, transportation, and infrastructure.

Electrical appliances

Devices that run on electricity and are used for various purposes in buildings, such as refrigeration, cooking, and electronics.

Lighting efficiency

The ability of lighting systems to produce the desired amount of light while minimizing energy consumption.

Demand response controls

Strategies and technologies that allow for the management and reduction of electricity demand during peak periods.

Appliance and equipment efficiency standards

Standards set by government agencies to regulate the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment.

ENERGY STAR program

A program run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that identifies and promotes energy-efficient products.

Appliance labeling

Labels that provide information about the energy efficiency of appliances to help consumers make informed choices.

Federal efficiency standards

Standards set by the federal government to regulate the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment.

Stakeholders

Individuals or groups with an interest or involvement in a particular issue or industry, such as manufacturers, energy efficiency proponents, and government agencies.

Whole Building to Zero Net Energy

A concept that aims to reduce the energy consumption of a building to zero by implementing energy-efficient measures and utilizing renewable energy sources.

Standards

Regulations or guidelines that set specific requirements for the energy efficiency and performance of appliances and equipment.

Energy Use

The amount of energy consumed by a particular appliance or equipment.

Initial Cost

The price of purchasing an appliance or equipment at the time of its introduction to the market.

Appliances

Devices or machines used for specific purposes in households or commercial settings, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers.

Refrigerators

Appliances used for cooling and preserving food items.

Dishwashers

Appliances used for cleaning dishes and utensils.

Clothes Washer

An appliance used for washing clothes.

Heat Pumps (HPs)

Devices that transfer heat from one place to another, typically used for heating or cooling purposes.

Central Air Conditioners (CACs)

Systems that provide cooling and air circulation for an entire building.

National Appliance Energy Conservation Act

Legislation that established national standards for energy efficiency in appliances.

Quads

A unit of energy equal to one quadrillion (10^15) British thermal units (BTUs).

End Use

The specific purpose for which energy is consumed in a building, such as heating, cooling, lighting, etc.

LED Lighting

Lighting technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for energy-efficient illumination.

Wind Power

Electricity generated by harnessing the power of wind through wind turbines.

Solar Power

Electricity generated by converting sunlight into usable energy through solar panels.

Efficiency Standards

Requirements set for appliances, equipment, and lighting to ensure energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Residential Boilers

Heating systems used in residential buildings.

Ceiling Fans

Appliances used for air circulation and cooling in residential buildings.

Clothes Dryers

Appliances used for drying clothes after washing.

Direct Heating Equipment

Heating systems that directly heat the air or water in a building.

External Power Supplies

Devices that convert electrical energy from a power source to a usable form for other devices.

Furnace Fans

Fans used in heating systems to distribute warm air throughout a building.

Furnaces

Heating systems that generate heat by burning fuel.

Microwave Ovens

Appliances used for cooking or heating food using microwaves.

Pool Heaters

Devices used to heat swimming pools.

Ranges and Ovens

Appliances used for cooking food.

Room Air Conditioners

Appliances used for cooling and dehumidifying the air in a single room or area.

Water Heaters

Appliances used for heating water for various purposes.

Showerheads

Devices through which water flows for showering.

Toilets

Sanitary fixtures used for human waste disposal.

Faucets

Devices used for controlling the flow of water in plumbing systems.

Commercial Ice Makers

Machines used for producing ice in commercial settings.

Compressors

Devices used to increase the pressure of a gas.

Transformers

Devices used to transfer electrical energy between different voltage levels.

Electric Motors

Devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Fans and Blowers

Devices used for air circulation and ventilation.

Pumps

Devices used to move fluids, such as water or oil.

Vending Machines

Machines that dispense products, typically snacks or beverages.

Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

Large refrigerated storage spaces used in commercial settings.

Water Source Heat Pumps

Heat pumps that utilize water as a heat source or heat sink.

Incandescent Lamps

Traditional light bulbs that produce light by heating a filament.

Compact Fluorescents

Energy-efficient light bulbs that use fluorescent technology.

Fluorescent Ballasts

Devices used to regulate the electrical current in fluorescent lamps.

General Service Lamps

Light bulbs used for general lighting purposes.

Illuminated Exit Signs

Signs that provide illumination to indicate emergency exits.

Mercury Vapor Ballasts

Devices used to regulate the electrical current in mercury vapor lamps.

Torchière Lighting Fixtures

Floor lamps that direct light upwards.

Traffic Signals

Devices used to control the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

A measure of the cooling efficiency of air conditioning systems, with higher SEER ratings indicating greater energy efficiency.

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)

A measure of the heating efficiency of heat pump systems, with higher HSPF ratings indicating greater energy efficiency.

DOE

Abbreviation for the U.S. Department of Energy, the federal agency responsible for setting energy efficiency standards.

Lawsuit settlement

An agreement reached between parties involved in a lawsuit, often resulting in changes to regulations or standards.

Gas furnace efficiency standard

The minimum efficiency requirements for gas furnaces, typically measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating.

ENERGY STAR program

A voluntary program started by the EPA to certify and label products that exceed federal energy efficiency standards by 15% or more.