Net Zero Energy Homes: Building A Sustainable Future

Types of Zero Energy Buildings

The net zero energy homes, are also referred to as zero carbon building, is a building in which the overall amount of energy used is zero, this means that the amount of energy the building produce by the utilized renewable energy sources equals that used in its existence within a given period of time, the energy resources could also be compensated elsewhere, other renewable resources. The zero carbon homes form a larger part of reducing the greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere, a comparison with homes which have not installed zero carbon resources puts them at a better situation to achieving sustainability. Green homes still produce the carbon gases, but compensate the same by utilizing the renewable sources. The net greenhouse gas for this case normalizes.  The European union have had implemented the concept of having green home, other states have pledged to implement it by 2020 (“10 Considerations for Building a Green Home – Bautex Systems”, 2018)

The main energy supply for green homes is tapped from the national grid, which is based on hydropower or wind power among other green sources, these buildings may compensate the same amount of energy at times. There are two common types of buildings depending on energy consumption, the energy plus and the low energy buildings. Energy plus homes produce significant higher amount of energy than that which they use, low energy homes have a higher energy need than that which they can produce, they are a times referred to as almost zero energy houses (2018)

Old buildings contribute almost 23 percent of the total carbon gases in the Australian air space, these is as result of huge consumption of nonrenewable fuels. The houses use the old technology with no zero-carbon energy technology. the main goal of building net zero homes is to minimize the greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere. This could be achieved by reducing the dependence of non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, in return, carbon emissions will be reduced. Zero zarbon homes are gaining popularity due to their relevance (“Carbon sink and low-carbon building materials | ClimateTechWiki”, 2018)

The zero carbon homes use national grid for electrical charge storage, others have their own storage, and are referred to as independent green homes. The zero net buildings usually produce their own energy with the help of the current technology components. This component are solar panels, hydropower, wind turbines and the home dynamos. The realization of green energy buildings is becoming more relevant, the cost of using fossil fuel has escalated while that of alternative energy sources have declined (Colley, 2006)

The developing modern technology in the field of construction and green energy sector has also contributed to the realization of green homes. These technology advancement are modern insulation, solar panels with relative higher sensitivity to photo, advanced heating pumps and well-designed window panels (“Embodied energy | YourHome”, 2018) The academic research as contributed largely in the advancement of this technology, they collect data from the tradition home setups and also zero net energy prototypes, these information will later be used to give standardized parameters for computer modeling and simulation (“Embodied energy | YourHome”, 2018)

Benefits of Net Zero Homes

The buildings are also classified in the smart grid.  Their main merits are listed below

• They utilize the on set renewable source, hence less carbon emission
• They have in plug electrical systems
• They are used to practical showcase zero carbon construction

Sustainable home design therefore involves designing homes to meet environmental requirement in the locations to be built, for this case, it is a good practice to design homes that have zero carbon technology, the building should also meet the residency standards, such as comfort needed. The buildings also take part in increasing the life expectancy: the impacts of the building to its surrounding are well predicted during its design stages. Considerations are made in terms of house maintained, energy consumption in comparison to energy produce, life span, utilization of resource and how to manage wastes.

To achieve sustainable home, different parties must participate. The clients, consultants together with contractors must cooperate. The construction team must utilize the onsite materials in a sustainable manner, such as to preserve the natural look of the surrounding, care must be taken not to induce any change that could make the environment unfit for inhabitance, such as creating water pools (Ng, Yau, Lam & Cheng, 2018)

The components used in constructing a home are sourced from different places. These materials undergo different process before they take part in bringing up a home. Materials such as sand, cement and bricks must be transported to the site. Each of the activities done to produce and transport these building materials needs power, the energy is sourced from different resources. These energies used in production and transport can be represented in terms of total carbon emitted. These carbon gases produced will then be quantified as embodied energy. Therefore, to achieve a zero-carbon home, engineers and contractors need to consider adopting materials with low embodied energy. The materials chosen should also be renewable or can be recycled (Zhao, Liu, Zhang & Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates, n.d.)

The following factors need to be considered in deciding which materials to use in constructing a net zero home:

• location of constructing materials- transportation requires energy, this means if the materials are sourced from nearby, less energy is required hence low carbon emissions
• chose materials that utilizes renewable sources as their raw materials
• choose materials in which there manufacturing process is simple, simple manufacturing use less energy
• material can be well utilized, has minimal wastages
• use materials which have been recycled- these reduces wastage and environmental pollution
• use renewable energy materials, they have low emissions to the atmosphere
• use efficient materials- materials with high latent heat can save energy well.

(“Part 2 – SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR HOMES…By Caroline Pidcock | 1 Million Women”, 2018)

The need for improved homes as made innovation in building and construction a necessity. These innovations are towards reducing the amount of carbon emitted to the atmosphere.

The innovative methods that have been used to build homes are aw discussed below

Firstly, materials which emit a lot of carbon when used in construction have been reduced, the precast construction technique has been applied to reduce the emissions in the places of construction. Casted materials produce more carbon emissions. To curb this, manufacturing is done in controlled places then transported to the site. (Saying, 2014)

Use of materials with a good thermal conductivity has reduced the need of heating and cooling appliances. Examples include the window panes, clients prefer panes with high thermal conductivity, such as triple and double pane windows. The window materials such as grass have been improved. Designers have added resins that make them have high thermal conductivity and efficiency. The improvement in construction have also advance to the insulation materials, which exhibit high efficiency with low carbon emission

The Role of Green Energy Technology

buildings have also been designed to redistribute heat energy from the sun, this technique involves solar radiation. The sunlight is redistributed inside the room; hence the internal temperatures of the room is increased. This method has been used to reduce use of heating elements during winter. During the hot seasons, the cool breeze from the louvers is forced into the rooms to lower temperatures.

 crucial methods that could be used to manage energy consumed in buildings are listed as follows

1. Get involved in actively operating you home to reduce energy use, such as opening windows during summer
2. Grow my own food
3. Reduce cooling costs by tuning the thermostat appropriately
4. Use efficient appliances, the old appliances should also be replaced with environmentally sustainable devices. This include efficient bulbs and heating components. (Thomas & Duffy, 2013)

the materials we used in generating home energy should be efficient. Example of renewable energy sources available are as discussed below.

 These involves converting sunlight emitted by sun to electricity or heat. Photovoltaic convert photons to energy. They are mostly referred to as solar panels.

Examples of technologies which utilize the solar resources are listed below.

• Photovoltaic systems
• Water heaters
• Room heating and day time lighting

Wind turbine will be used to convert the mechanical power to electricity. Wind provides the rotating force necessary to produce power. Wind data will be obtained from burial of meteorology for Australia. 

Reusing the available resources reduces disposal rates, and also production of other construction materials.  Alternatively, reduction of excessive use of resources will ensure well utilization of resources. (Walker, n.d.)

Some of the common materials that can be reused are discussed below. 

1. Timber

Timber used during construction will be reused in other buildings or for other purposes. Such could be used in providing support before pillars dry.

1. Metals

Metals from demolished buildings can be recycled as scrap, which will later be converted for other use

1. Plasterboard

This will be retrieved from sites of construction and recycled 

 The building is to be constructed at Cains Rd, Natte Yallock VIC 3465, Australia (36°56.7’S, 143°28.1’E) location

Area of the rooms
no	Description	Area (truncated to 1m2)
1	Main bed	30
2	passage	11
3	Room 1	28
4	Room 2	6
5	BED	13
6	BED	9
7	BATHROOM	10
8	dining	60
	Total	167

 materials and elements

 The materials t used in construction are given below.

1. conventional bricks
2. high carbon plastering
3. elevated floorings
4. high carbon carpeting
5. lead paints
6. iron roofing

Your home	SDC	SDH
Heating	0.00	66
Cooling	14.1	0.00
In kilowatts	1342	16422
Total	17764

The RH home is an improved model of your home, that is model 9. It is located on same place as my home. My home emits more carbon to the atmosphere due to materials used to build it, these necessitates a more advanced design to reduce the carbon emission.

The materials used in these cases were as follows

1. low carbon bricks
2. low carbon plastering
3. tilted floor plans
4. floor mart
5. clattered surface
6. clay roofs
7. timber ceilings 

the materials which were used and are durable

1. low carbon bricks
2. low carbon plastering
3. tilted floor plans
4. floor mart
5. clattered surface
6. clay roofs
7. timber ceilings

Reusing the available resources reduces disposal rates, and also production of other construction materials.  Alternatively, reduction of excessive use of resources will ensure well utilization of resources.

Some of the common materials that can be reused are discussed below.

1. Timber

Timber used during construction will be reused in other buildings or for other purposes. Such could be used in providing support before pillars dry.

1. Metals

Metals from demolished buildings can be recycled as scrap, which will later be converted for other use

1. Plasterboard

This will be retrieved from sites of construction and recycled

Processes utilized during construction which have minimal impact to the carbon emission 

Processes utilized during construction which have minimal impact to the carbon emission

Human labor has been used to reduce use of other energy resources

materials which emit a lot of carbon when used in construction have been reduced, the precast construction technique has been applied to reduce the emissions in the places of construction. Casted materials produce more carbon emissions. To curb this, manufacturing is done in controlled places then transported to the site.

Sustainable Home Design

Use of materials with a good thermal conductivity has reduced the need of heating and cooling appliances. Examples include the window panes, clients prefer panes with high thermal conductivity, such as triple and double pane windows. The window materials such as grass have been improved. Designers have added resins that make them have high thermal conductivity and efficiency. The improvement in construction have also advance to the insulation materials, which exhibit high efficiency with low carbon emission

buildings have also been designed to redistribute heat energy from the sun, this technique involves solar radiation. The sunlight is redistributed inside the room; hence the internal temperatures of the room is increased. This method has been used to reduce use of heating elements during winter 

3.6 management techniques used InDesign to lower energy consumption in appliances and hot water

1. Hot water –solar heaters have been used, they utilize natural sunlight to heat water
2. Get involved in actively operating you home to reduce energy use, such as opening windows during summer
3. Reduce cooling costs by tuning the thermostat appropriately
4. Use efficient appliances, the old appliances should also be replaced with environmentally sustainable devices. This include efficient bulbs and heating components.  

solar energy- These involves converting sunlight emitted by sun to electricity or heat. Photovoltaic convert photons to energy. They are mostly referred to as solar panels.

Examples of technologies which utilize the solar resources are listed below.

• Photovoltaic systems
• Water heaters
• Room heating and day time lighting

Wind power-Wind turbine will be used to convert the mechanical power to electricity. Wind provides the rotating force necessary to produce power. Wind data will be obtained from burea of meteorology for Australia. 

component description	Description	room area	Thick	capacity	Dense	load	Embodied energy	EC	Total EE (MJ)	Total embodied carbon (kgCO2e)
(m2)	(m)	(m3)	(kg/m3)	(kg)	(MJ/kg)	(kgCO2e/kg)
Walls	conventional bricks	127	0.14	14	1,795.00	24,564.00	5	0.3	70,746.25	5,669.00
plastering	246.12	0.013	2.44	842	2,085.64	6.8	0.4	14,171.30	813.01
Floor	elevated	167.66	0.1	16.72	2,404.00	42,333.40	0.8	0.13	28,176.88	4,043.84
carpeting	167.66	0.04	3.34	100	368.73	77	4	25,906.23	1,360.06
Ceiling	plastering	289.26	0.013	3.75	840	3,185.04	6.8	0.4	2,159.03	1,310.32
plastered	289.26	0.12	44.53	12	536.55	17	1.3	8,893.57	694.23
Roof		183.3	0.021	3	2,404.00	8,788.40	36	2.8	327,540.80	23,765.68
windows and doors		7.35	0.04	0.4	1,263.00	473.05	15	1.1	6,718.23	495.5
	24.16	0.03	1.2	0.9	1	275	1.3	305	1.4
		1,501.62		91	9,660.90	82,335.81	439.4	11	484,617.29	38,153.04
	Scope 2	1.12	542,771.36
Scope 3	0.14	67,846.42
Total	105,999.46

Table 2 for carbon emission estimates for redesigned home construction materials

component description	Description	room area	Thick	capacity	Dense	load	Embodied energy	EC	Total EE (MJ)	Total embodied carbon (kgCO2e)
(m2)	(m)	(m3)	(kg/m3)	(kg)	(MJ/kg)	(kgCO2e/kg)
Walls	low carbon bricks	127	0.14	14	1,795.00	24,164.00	3	0.1	746.25	69.00
low carbon plastering	246.12	0.013	2.44	842	2,285.64	3	0.2	171.30	813.01
Floor	tilted	167.66	0.1	16.72	2,404.00	42,133.40	0	0.13	28,176.88	433.84
floor matt	167.66	0.04	3.34	100	32.73	14	4	206.23	360.06
Ceiling	clattered	289.26	0.013	3.75	840	3,185.04	5	0.4	2,159.03	10.32
plastered	289.26	0.12	44.53	12	56.55	3	1.3	882.57	694.23
Roof		183.3	0.021	3	2,404.00	388.40	31	2.8	32,740.80	3,765.68
windows and doors		7.35	0.04	0.4	1,263.00	453.05	12	1.1	67,182.23	95.5
	24.16	0.03	1.2	0.9	1	235	1	305	1.4
		1,501.62		91	9,660.90	72,699.81	306	11	132,570.29	6,243.04
	Scope 2	1.12	148,478.72
Scope 3	0.14	18,559.84
Total	24,802.88

Table 3 maintained, your home estimates

type	span	maintenances	EE	EE	Energy (per year)
Conventional bricks	50	0	19,673	o	o
plaster	20	1	36745	78464	2764
Concrete slab	50	0	77482	0.00	0.00
General carpet	30	2	7,322	7,324	184
Ceiling plasterboard	40	0	6,234	0	0
insulations	15	2	2,43	4,32	1223
Roofing	40	0	33	8999	4757.57
Wood doors	15	4	1444	5984	455
Window Glazing (single)	8	5	324	445	455
Total	243455	45678

Appliances	Qty.	Capacity (W)	Avg Usage (hr./day)	Electricity Used (kW/day)	Power consumption (kW/year)
Energy saver bulbs	5.00	3	4.00	0.04	194.10
Cordless v cleaner	1	100.00	1	0.10	0.43
wave	1.00	500.00	01	0.34	144.25
Low wattage iron	1.00	400.00	0.5	0.09	62.85
fridge	1.00	250.00	24.00	5.52	2,654.80
Smart tv	1.00	65.00	3	0.15	65.6
Computer desktop	1.00	130.00	3	0.40	165.00
Washing m	1.00	400.00	1	0.15	43.75
drier	1	340.00	0.5	0.60	76.00
Cooker	1	43.00	1	0.05	154.43
Laptop	3.00	70.00	2.00	0.29	318.50
Mobile	3.00	4.00	1.90	0.0091	10.95
Total	20.00	3,689.00	42.10	6.86	3,612.38
	Scope 2	1.12	23,45.86
Scope 3	0.14	643.73
Carbon emitted (in kgs of CO2e)	3,165

 A summery and comparison of carbon emissions.  

Description	Your Home kgs CO2	Re-Design Home  Kgs CO2	Improvement
Components used in cosntruction	87632	7253	53
Construction	652453	26534	68
Maintenances	234	34	78
Wastes	123444	12,344	76
appliances	15,321.95	5,873.59	61.67
Temperature regulations	4567	4666	56
total	8883651	56704	93.58

Climate input resources

wind resources   

Provide the details of cost information including grid electricity cost, renewable system cost,
buyback price of renewable energy, and discount rate 

	Energy Purchased (kWh)	Energy Sold (kWh)	Net Energy Purchased (kWh)	Peak Demand (kW)	Energy Charge	Demand Charge
January	222	2,132	-1,910	2.10	-$84.42	$0.00
February	214	2,274	-2,061	2.29	-$92.35	$0.00
March	300	2,821	-2,521	3.42	-$111.03	$0.00
April	347	3,062	-2,715	3.88	-$118.40	$0.00
May	419	2,899	-2,479	3.84	-$103.00	$0.00
June	480	2,653	-2,173	3.81	-$84.67	$0.00
July	500	2,787	-2,287	4.79	-$89.37	$0.00
August	423	2,987	-2,563	4.34	-$106.98	$0.00
September	359	2,926	-2,567	4.11	-$110.42	$0.00
October	306	2,617	-2,312	3.47	-$100.29	$0.00
November	262	2,107	-1,844	3.43	-$79.09	$0.00
December	226	2,112	-1,887	2.47	-$83.04	$0.00
Annual	4,058	31,377	-27,319	4.79	-$1,163	$0.00

Month	Energy Purchased (kWh)	Energy Sold (kWh)	Net Energy Purchased (kWh)	Peak Demand (kW)	Energy Charge	Demand Charge
January	222	2,132	-1,910	0	-$84.42	$0.00
February	214	2,274	-2,061	0	-$92.35	$0.00
March	300	2,821	-2,521	0	-$111.03	$0.00
April	347	3,062	-2,715	0	-$118.40	$0.00
May	419	2,899	-2,479	0	-$103.00	$0.00
June	480	2,653	-2,173	0	-$84.67	$0.00
July	500	2,787	-2,287	0	-$89.37	$0.00
August	423	2,987	-2,563	0	-$106.98	$0.00
September	359	2,926	-2,567	0	-$110.42	$0.00
October	306	2,617	-2,312	0	-$100.29	$0.00
November	262	2,107	-1,844	0	-$79.09	$0.00
December	226	2,112	-1,887	0	-$83.04	$0.00
Annual	4,058	31,377	-27,319	0	-$1,163	$0.00

Detail and explain HOMER outputs of your design  

Evaluate the “net-zero-energy” criteria for the life cycle of the RH. 

Constructing sustainable homes seems to be a good idea. However, achieving that which is good requires a lot of effort. Implementing the redesigned home is more challenging. The feasibility analysis of implementing a redesigned home is much expensive. The chances that the project will go through is below 60%. The following challenges and their solutions have been highlighted.

1. Use of wind turbines, solar heaters and tiles is expensive.

Remedy- to solve this issue, it would be better if different individuals collaborate and install these resources for collective use. Green grid systems could also be used in place of solar and wind resources.

1. Climate change-

Remedy- in designing homes, climate of the place should also be considered

1. Multiple choices to make These challenges are just but few. However, the results of implementing the redesigned home are far much better.  

Conclusion 

Environmental sustainability is no longer a choice, it is a necessity. This is because human beings cannot maintain their quality of life of being human without interacting with the environment. We should all yearn in promoting environmental sustainability by participating in work practices that sustain our environment. For our renewable resource, extraction rate should not exceed regeneration rate, for non-renewable resources, depletion rate should tally with their renewable substitutes and for pollution, waste generation should not exceed the environment’s rate to absorb. By so, we could have sustained our environment for our own good and that of our future generations.

Implementing the zero-energy home design and technology will have positive impacts to the environment. The sustainability therefore would be achieved since most of the carbon emissions are from the homes which do not conform to zero net energy technology. Old buildings contribute almost 23 percent of the total carbon gases in the Australian air space, these is as result of huge consumption of non-renewable fuels. The houses use the old technology with no zero-carbon energy technology. the main goal of building net zero homes is to minimize the greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere.

References

10 Considerations for Building a Green Home – Bautex Systems. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.bautexsystems.com/company/news-events/building-a-green-home/(2018). Retrieved from https://ascelibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.1061/9780784412909.063

Belloc, H. (1967). On. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press.

Carbon sink and low-carbon building materials | ClimateTechWiki. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/carbon-sink-and-low-carbon-building-materials

Colley, A. (2006). Sustainability. Canterbury, N.S.W.: EnviroPro.

Embodied energy | YourHome. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.yourhome.gov.au/materials/embodied-energyGoodall, C. Sustainability.

Ng, T., Yau, R., Lam, T., & Cheng, V. (2018). Design and commission a zero-carbon building for hot and humid climate.

Part 2 – SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR HOMES…By Caroline Pidcock | 1 Million Women. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/part-2-sustainable-design-considerations-for-homes-by-caroline-pidcock/

Saying, A. (2014). Sustainability, energy and architecture. Oxford, UK: Academic Press.

Sustainability in building design and construction – Designing Buildings Wiki. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sustainability_in_building_design_and_construction

Thomas, W., & Duffy, J. (2013). Energy performance of net-zero and near net-zero energy homes in New England. Energy And Buildings, 67, 551-558. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.08.047

Walker, A. Project management in construction.

Yates, J., & Castro-Lacouture, D. (2016). Sustainability in engineering design and construction. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group.

Zhao, S., Liu, J., Zhang, X., & Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates. Innovative materials and design for sustainable transportation infrastructure.