ZEH basics and intro to this blog
The Zero Energy Home (ZEH):
"Zero-energy can be defined in several ways. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have analyzed the policy and design implications of four common definitions:
1) Zero-net-annual site energy. A building meeting the zero-net-annual site energy definition offsets any important energy by exporting an equal amount of site-derived energy, measured over the course of one year.
2) Zero-net-annual source energy. Zero-net-annual source energy is based on energy used offsite to generate and transport the energy that is used at the building. On average in the U.S., it takes just over three units of fuel for a power plant to deliver each unit of electricity and about 1.1 units of fuel to deliver each unit of natural gas.
3) Zero-net-annual energy cost. As electric utilities are increasingly being required to purchase excess energy generated by end-users through net-metering agreements, the possibility of a zero-energy-cost building emerges.
4) Zero-net-annual emissions. A zero-emissions building offsets emissions equivalent to the amount emitted through the source energy that powers the building. This definition if often limited to greenhouse gas emissions."
Source: Environmental Building News Oct 05, p 1, by Nadav Malin and Jessica Boehland.
Residential Sector Energy Consumption
Buildings consume 36 percent of the USA's total energy resources, 33 percent of that is used for heating while 10 percent is used for cooling, 15 percent for heating water and 42 percent for everything else.
Home Energy Usage
The average single family home in Wisconsin consumes 10,000 kWh per year, or about 1 kWh every hour of the year. That home also consumes 100,000 ft3 of natural gas – primarily for space and water heating. At current energy prices to heat and power the home would cost about $1,200/year for electricity and $1240/year for natural gas or $2440/year. At current electricity rates that will cost the homeowner almost $50,000 over the home’s first twenty years (or $200,000 if the house is expected to last 100 years). If energy prices increased 8 percent each year, the homeowner will pay over $120,000 for energy during the home’s first 20 years (over $150,000 if energy prices increase at a rate of 10 percent per year).
A Zero Energy Home Should:
1) Meet much of its space and/or water heating needs using an onsite renewable energy system.
2) Have high levels of insulation, careful construction (to limit air leakage), passive solar attributes, attention to home orientation, layout and fenestration.
3) Be of a moderate size (roughly under 800 ft2 per occupant).
4) Meet much of its electric needs using an onsite renewable energy system. After the renewable energy systems the home should uses at least 75% less energy than a similarly sized home built to code (thus are very energy efficient) – with the eventual goal of meeting all its needs onsite.
Information Relavence
This project was funded by the U.S. DOE midwest region Million Solar Roofs program. It focus on the eight midwestern states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.
However the findings are relavent to ZEH located in twenty four states that have a similar climate. The twenty four states have real winters (USDA hardiness zone six and higher) and limited winter solar resource (less than 3.0 kWh/m2 per day in December). Those states are: Connecticut, Iowa (eastern), Massacusets, North Dakota (northern), Ohio,
Vermont, Idaho (northern), Kentucky (northern), Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon, northeastern), Washington (northern & eastern), Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey (northern), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland (western), Montana (all but southeastern), New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
"Zero-energy can be defined in several ways. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have analyzed the policy and design implications of four common definitions:
1) Zero-net-annual site energy. A building meeting the zero-net-annual site energy definition offsets any important energy by exporting an equal amount of site-derived energy, measured over the course of one year.
2) Zero-net-annual source energy. Zero-net-annual source energy is based on energy used offsite to generate and transport the energy that is used at the building. On average in the U.S., it takes just over three units of fuel for a power plant to deliver each unit of electricity and about 1.1 units of fuel to deliver each unit of natural gas.
3) Zero-net-annual energy cost. As electric utilities are increasingly being required to purchase excess energy generated by end-users through net-metering agreements, the possibility of a zero-energy-cost building emerges.
4) Zero-net-annual emissions. A zero-emissions building offsets emissions equivalent to the amount emitted through the source energy that powers the building. This definition if often limited to greenhouse gas emissions."
Source: Environmental Building News Oct 05, p 1, by Nadav Malin and Jessica Boehland.
Residential Sector Energy Consumption
Buildings consume 36 percent of the USA's total energy resources, 33 percent of that is used for heating while 10 percent is used for cooling, 15 percent for heating water and 42 percent for everything else.
Home Energy Usage
The average single family home in Wisconsin consumes 10,000 kWh per year, or about 1 kWh every hour of the year. That home also consumes 100,000 ft3 of natural gas – primarily for space and water heating. At current energy prices to heat and power the home would cost about $1,200/year for electricity and $1240/year for natural gas or $2440/year. At current electricity rates that will cost the homeowner almost $50,000 over the home’s first twenty years (or $200,000 if the house is expected to last 100 years). If energy prices increased 8 percent each year, the homeowner will pay over $120,000 for energy during the home’s first 20 years (over $150,000 if energy prices increase at a rate of 10 percent per year).
A Zero Energy Home Should:
1) Meet much of its space and/or water heating needs using an onsite renewable energy system.
2) Have high levels of insulation, careful construction (to limit air leakage), passive solar attributes, attention to home orientation, layout and fenestration.
3) Be of a moderate size (roughly under 800 ft2 per occupant).
4) Meet much of its electric needs using an onsite renewable energy system. After the renewable energy systems the home should uses at least 75% less energy than a similarly sized home built to code (thus are very energy efficient) – with the eventual goal of meeting all its needs onsite.
Information Relavence
This project was funded by the U.S. DOE midwest region Million Solar Roofs program. It focus on the eight midwestern states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.
However the findings are relavent to ZEH located in twenty four states that have a similar climate. The twenty four states have real winters (USDA hardiness zone six and higher) and limited winter solar resource (less than 3.0 kWh/m2 per day in December). Those states are: Connecticut, Iowa (eastern), Massacusets, North Dakota (northern), Ohio,
Vermont, Idaho (northern), Kentucky (northern), Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon, northeastern), Washington (northern & eastern), Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey (northern), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland (western), Montana (all but southeastern), New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
posted by niels at 12:13 PM
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