Common Names

ZE Building – Zero Energy Building

ZNE Building – Zero Net Energy Building

ZEB – Zero Energy Building

NZEB – Net Zero Energy Building

Definition

The buildings which produce energy by renewable sources at the site and consumes the same amount energy is termed as Zero Energy Buildings.

Methodology

Zero Energy Building get half or more of its energy from the power grid and return the equal amount after sometime.

According to daily and seasonal position of sun, window and door type and placement, overhang depth, insulation type and values of the building elements, air tightness, the efficiency of heating, cooling, lighting and other equipment, as well as local climate are take care of.

Zero energy buildings are built with significant energy saving features. The heating and cooling loads are lower by using high efficiency equipment, insulation, high efficiency windows, natural ventilation, and other techniques.

Zero energy buildings are often design to make dual use of energy including white goods, for example, using refrigerator exhaust to heat domestic water, ventilation air and shower drain heat exchangers, office machines and computer servers and body heat to the heat of the building. These buildings make use of heat energy that conventional buildings may exhaust outside.

Advantages of Zero Energy Buildings

• Detachment of building owners in future from increased prices of energy.
• Increase in comfort level due to uniformity in temperature.
• Requirement reduces for energy penance.
• Overall cost of new construction is less as compared to afterthought retrofit.
• However higher resale value of ZEB.

Disadvantages of Zero Energy Buildings

• Initial cost is higher however ZEB execution is expensive
• Limited manpower is skilled for its construction, therefore it is difficult to find skilled labour or manpower.
• While peak demand of grid occurs, other houses may use less energy but the energy demand for ZEB does not reduces.

Conclusion

To conclude we may say that ZEB results in reduce in carbon emission, independency of fossil fuels increases. Also prevents seasonal energy storage, requirement of energy austerity reduces and energy efficiency improves.

India’s first Net Zero Building is Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, located in New Delhi.