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Here’s what you can use about buildings producing all the energy they use By Mark Robins, Senior Editor


Research has shown that today’s insulated wall


and roof systems can save as much as 30 percent of a building’s total energy use. An independent simula- tion analysis was performed by the Architectural Energy Corp. to evaluate the energy effi ciency impact of improving typical buildings with IMP wall and roof systems. Three baseline buildings compliant with ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 and 90.1-2007 (school, offi ce and warehouse) were simulated in four loca- tions. Each building’s envelope was improved with the IMP wall and roof systems.


4. Concentrate on energy conservation. Energy conservation will always be a critical component in net zero buildings. By reducing the energy base load by deploying energy effi cient building technologies, the need for renewable energy production is signifi cantly reduced. In terms of energy conservation, lighting is one


of the most important components. According to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report, lighting accounts for about 20 to 50 percent of the entire electricity consumed by U.S. residences and of- fi ces. New light-emitting diode (LED) fi xtures have surpassed fl uorescent and mercury-based lamps in delivering energy reduction and provide the most environmentally sustainable solution. LED fi xtures offer a durable, sustainable,


low-energy choice. “LED fi xtures are 65 percent more effi cient than high-intensity discharge (HID) fi xtures, and 30 percent more energy effi cient than


fl uorescent ones,” says Jeff Bisberg, co-founder and CEO of Albeo Technologies in Boulder, Colo. “By adding smart controls, such as automatic on/ off motion sensors, energy use can be cut even further. Dole Foods documented a reduction in its lighting energy use by up to 95 percent at its Atwater, Calif., sub-zero cold storage warehouse, through Albeo LEDs and smart controls.”


5. Daylight is an effi cient source. Lighting accounts for 25 percent of total energy us- age in a typical U.S. offi ce building and waste heat generated by artifi cial lighting contributes signifi - cantly to the total cooling load. Both of these facts make optimizing natural daylight and controlling artifi cial lighting, critical components in achieving net zero buildings. Daylight is the most effi cient lighting source. To fully take advantage of lighting as a net zero


input, buildings should be oriented on sites correctly to maximize the amount of windows in a building. Designers can save energy by optimizing natural daylighting, gaining passive solar heat in winter and minimizing solar heat gain through windows. Steve Fronek, PE, LEED Green Associate


and vice president of technical services at Wau- sau Window and Wall Systems in Wausau, Wis., believes when aiming for net zero, “window or cur- tainwall manufacturers should have a ‘seat at the table’ to leverage their intimate knowledge of sys- tem capabilities, trade-offs and costs. Interestingly,


the most basic properties of glazing system—size and confi guration—can be the most impactful.” To further maximize the power of the sun,


solar panels can convert solar radiation to electri- cal energy. Net zero buildings generally require a suite of several solar panels to supply an adequate amount of energy. Photovoltaics’ zero-emission en- ergy reduces greenhouse gases and pollution. So- lar technology is constantly evolving with increased effi ciencies and energy storage capabilities.


6. Cheaper than you think. Net zero energy commercial buildings are both more feasible and affordable than people think, so says a report from the New Buildings Institute (NBI) and the Zero Energy Commercial Building Consortium (CBC). The report is titled “Getting to Zero 2012 Status Update: A First Look at the Cost and Features of Zero Energy Commercial Buildings.” According to it, the in- cremental costs for net zero building energy effi cien- cy features range from 3 to 18 percent, depending on building type, size, climate and other variables. As the larger offi ce buildings market moves


toward net zero, minimizing electrical loads from plug-in equipment and appliances, along with other miscellaneous or “unregulated” loads is a priority, the report says. The emergence of new technolo- gies will also be a factor in expanding to more building types, NBI says. Adopting these new energy-saving technolo- gies may have high initial cost implications, but


Net zero buildings generally require a suite of several solar panels to supply an adequate amount of energy. (Photo courtesy of Metanna)


www.metalconstructionnews.com


Manitoba Hydro Place’s net zero requirements are partially fi lled by computers that control the light exposures, as well as numerous passive heating and cooling mechanisms. (Photo courtesy of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects)


June 2012 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS 21


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