Global warming and climate change have become increasingly important topics in recent decades. Because residential and commercial structures utilize the most energy, resources are depleting at a significantly faster rate. One of the recent studies shows that 14% of humanity actively participates in protecting the environment, with the remaining 48% concerned about the ecosystem but not active. Our structural consultants in Chennai construct net-zero energy buildings for the purpose of biological preservation. This blog will highlight everything that you need to know about zero energy buildings.
What is a Zero Energy Building?
A Zero Energy Building (ZEB), also called Net Zero Energy (NZEB). It is a structure with net-zero energy utilization, indicating that the total quantity of energy required by the structure on a yearly basis is equivalent to the quantity of sustainable energy generated.
On a yearly basis, zero energy buildings create energy equivalent to what they consume. They accomplish this by utilizing energy-efficient and renewable technologies. Zero-energy buildings can also develop an energy surplus, contributing lower emissions than conventional structures.
Zero-energy buildings generate electricity through solar and wind while reducing overall energy consumption with specialized HVAC and lighting systems.
Design principles of Zero Energy Buildings
Our engineering consultants in Chennai follow certain principles while designing zero energy buildings:
- Passive design
- HVAC
- Lighting
- Energy Efficient appliances
- Renewable Energy
The following section will explain each element in detail:
Passive Design
The application of effective passive design principles is the first step towards net-zero energy consumption. NZEBs must substantially reduce their energy consumption and then focus on renewable energy sources to supply their existing energy needs.
Building form, inclination, shading, and venting decisions made early in the design process have the most impact on the building’s energy consumption.
Passive design solutions strive to achieve thermal comfort with the least amount of active cooling and heating. It involves decreasing cooling and heating requirements in the summer and winter by proper orientation, exterior shading, adequate windows, and natural air circulation.
HVAC
The optimization process should start with the calculation of loads, then go on to systems engineering, selection and installation, calibration, and finally, operation and maintenance. For additional savings, sophisticated low-energy systems are highly recommended.
Lighting
Lighting in a building amounts to more than a quarter of total building energy usage. To attain net-zero goals, it is critical to optimize lighting energy use. Lighting fixtures must be used in tandem with daylighting. The building’s shape, orientation, and fenestration must bring in all the daylight into the structure. Daylighting controls and occupancy sensors could help to minimize lighting energy use even more.
Energy Efficient
Appliance efficiency would speed up the energy conservation in buildings. It depends on the appliances that people purchase as well as how they are used. This section provides information on the various options available to users, as well as the criteria for picking the appropriate appliances and best practices for their use.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy sources are the last step towards achieving zero-energy targets. It should adjust the remaining energy demand once all possible efforts to minimize energy consumption have been implemented. Renewable energy systems can be built into the structure during the early design phase or added later as retrofits.
We have our structural engineer in Chennai and other parts of the city to make ourselves easily available for our clients. Get in touch with us for building zero energy homes for a sustainable future.