Rethinking net zero: A new perspective on achieving net zero energy buildings

Abstract

"Energy" is an essential component of modern civilization, driving economic growth, technological innovation, and urbanization. However, the desire of the energy contributes to several geopolitical conflicts, emissions, and environmental deterioration. Since the building sector is highly energy-intensive with its construction and operations, addressing its energy requirement is crucial. A solution is provided by The Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) strategy, applies to buildings whose annual energy consumption is equal to the amount of energy produced from renewable sources. This paper presents a new framework for designing energy-efficient buildings by developing the NZEB approach and integrating BIM. It introduces the Realistic Net-Zero Energy Building (RNZEB) method, that highlights the necessity for buildings to balance not only their operational energy consumes, also the embodied energy of materials utilises renewable resources throughout their whole lifespan. This study uses information collected from a conceptual residential project in London to demonstrate how the RNZEB approach is effective and how different structural systems (steel, reinforced concrete, timber) and building operations impact total energy consumption. The result demonstrates embodied energy of traditional steel house is 308,599.2 kWh, concrete house is 240,247.2 kWh, and timber house is 151,902.7 kWh. Employing low embodied energy materials reduces the energy footprint by 33.90 % for steel, 24.70 % for concrete, and 11.05 % for timber. Additionally, applying cutting-edge technologies results in impressive operational energy savings of up to 84.45 %. The RNZEB method's goal is to reset these reduced energies with renewable resources. Steel house in its 49th year, concrete in its 43rd, and timber in its 32nd year achieve the RNZE target.