Zero Energy Buildings: Sustainability in Construction Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of zero-energy buildings and their contribution to sustainability in the construction sector. It begins by defining zero-energy buildings and highlighting their importance in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The report delves into the engineering aspects of these buildings, emphasizing the reduction of lighting and HVAC loads, as well as the integration of renewable energy sources like solar panels and windmills. It also explores the optimization of engineering systems through integrated monitoring and control, leveraging information technology and automation. A SWOT analysis is presented to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with zero-energy buildings, emphasizing their environmental, economic, and social benefits. The conclusion reinforces the concept's significance in promoting sustainability, reducing energy costs, and mitigating global warming. The report references several studies and publications to support its findings.

Zero Energy Buildings for
sustainability in
Construction
Introduction
The construction sector is rapidly growing to accommodate the needs of the ever-increasing population, resulting into alteration of the natural environment. This
necessitates the need to adopt design concepts that would be sustainable in the long run, both in terms of energy consumption, emission of Green House Gases
(GHGs) and preservation of the environment for posterity.
According to Elena P. et al. (2015), zero energy buildings involves the design and construction of houses that have lower rates of energy consumption thereby
reducing emissions of GHGs, a concept that would help in the mitigation of global warming that has since become a global problem. It is estimated that nearly 40% of
all sources of energy are consumed by housing stock, hence a reduction in energy consumption would consequently reduce the GHGs emission (Khoshbakht M., Gou
Z. and Dupre K., 2017). Net zero-energy building describes the synergy between an energy efficient building and consumption of renewable energy with the aim of
balancing the energy budget over an annual cycle (Karsten V., Eike M. and Markus L., 2016). This implies that the total energy consumed by the building in a period
of one year is roughly equal to the renewable energy created on the site.
Improvement of engineering performance
In order to provide comfort in a building, a number of energy consuming systems needs to be installed so as to maintain ideal environmental conditions. These may be
lighting systems, HVAC loads, plug loads as well as environmental loads. In designing of zero energy buildings, it is advisable to reduce the lighting and HVAC loads
since this results in a reduction of energy consumption hence economical (Gandhi et al., 2014).
Designing of solar components and windmills
The use of renewable sources of energy has proved to be sustainable since there are no emissions and are normally environmentally friendly (Ming S., Bon-Gang H.
and Lei Z., 2017). This involves the use of solar energy and wind energy as they can be easily harnessed and utilized without potential threats to the environment.
The solar panels are made up of solar regulator and linked to DC storage battery. To produce and use electricity, an inverter is connected to the DC to produce AC that
is used by the appliances in the building.
Figure 1 Solar panels to generate renewable energy
Another source of renewable energy is the wind. Windmills are used to convert the kinetic energy of wind into electric power, where it is distributed from the
main grid to households. This substitutes the energy from fossil fuel thereby reducing the emissions and promoting sustainable construction through Whole Cycle
Life-Costing of Buildings as explained by Sruthi P. and Gokuldeepan K. (2018).
Figure 2.Windmills for renewable energy
Optimization of engineering systems
There is need to balance the performance of engineering systems installed in the building to create the desired balance between energy consumption
and energy production as explained by Elena P. et al, (2015). There should be control and monitoring of appliances by having an integrated
environment, and can be made possible by the utilization of information technology, automation, digital audio and video systems. The systems to be
integrated for easy monitoring include ventilation systems, heating, air conditioning systems, lighting, fire protection, video surveillance systems and
telecommunications. An integrated system would provide optimization mechanisms in energy consumption and reduction of cost by the approach of
whole-life cycle costing as dictated by principles of sustainability.
Figure 3. ventilation system with Geothermal heat pump.
SWOT Analysis of zero energy buildings
Zero energy buildings are more sustainable as compared to those that use conventional sources of energy, both in environmental, economic and social
aspects of sustainability. This is because there are negligible amounts of emissions of GHGs, no damage to the environment and installation and
maintenance are cheaper. A SWOT analysis of this type of building is done and shown in the table below.
Strength
 Reducing the amount of Green House Gas emissions
 Bridging the gap of energy efficiency and by generating cost-effective
energy for consumption.
 Implementation of circular economy systems
 High availability of solar and wind energy sources
 Regeneration of the source of energy that can be used for infinity
without depletion
 Strong specialization in electric services.
 Good relationship with key investors who are strong conservatives of
the environment.
Weaknesses
 Lack of favourable government policies
 There is a consistent growing demand for energy
 Insufficient capital for private investors to take the lead
 Unavailability of integrated system to involve all stake holders in the
construction sector with the objective of designing zero energy
buildings.
 Lack of technical standards and quality control
Opportunities
Effective design principles of reducing energy consumption and
emission of GHGs
Boosting the energy supply in main grid and reducing overreliance on
fossil fuel
Involvement of the local people to get enlightened on the need to
adopt zero energy buildings in construction.
Updating legislation to be oriented towards eco-sustainable designs
The renewable energy is a fast-growing sector hence popularity of zero
energy buildings are more likely to be adopted.
Threats
 Insufficient skills in design of net zero energy buildings poses a threat in
the near future
 Inadequate marketing strategies to increase the popularity of zero energy
buildings.
 Designers are not willing to have a transition from the conventional
design methods to zero energy design.
 Insufficient information in the public domain for the public.
 Potentially Research and Design costs
Conclusion
The concept of zero-energy buildings contributes to sustainability in the construction sector. This ensures that the amount of energy consumed is also generated by
the use of renewable energy systems, that are environmentally friendly and do not cause emissions of greenhouse gases. This results into saving huge amount of
electric bills that would otherwise have been spent. This will significantly contribute to the reduction of global warming.
References
ACT Environment Planning Sustainable Development Directorate , 2018. Review of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme : SWOT analysis. 27 June.pp. 1-26.
Elena P., Mariia P., Alexandr G. and Xenyiya R., 2015. Concept Project of Zero Energy Building. Procedia Engineering, 2015(100), pp. 1505-1514.
Gandhi H., Daniel C., Peter F., Alec R., Riadh H., and Will N., 2014. Sustainable Design of a Nearly Zero Energy Building Facilitated by a Smart Microgrid. Journal of Renewable
Energy, Volume 2014, pp. 1-11.
Isopescu, D., 2018. The impact of green building principles in the sustainable development of the built environment. Materials Science and Engineering.
Karsten V., Eike M. and Markus L., 2016. FROM LOW-ENERGY TO NET ZERO-ENERGY BUILDINGS: STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES. Journal of Green Building, 6(1), pp.
46-56.
Khoshbakht M., Gou Z. and Dupre K., 2017. Cost-benefit prediction of green buildings: SWOT analysis of research methods and recent applications. Procedia Engineering, Volume
180, pp. 167-178.
Krutko, P., 2015. Analysis of the Net Zero Energy Home Industry. International Economic Development Council .
Lin Z., Shan G., Zezhou W., Ahmed A. and Tasawar H., 2018. SWOT Analysis for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency in Rural Buildings: A Case Study of China. Energies, 5
April.pp. 1-17.
Ming S., Bon-Gang H. and Lei Z., 2017. A Global Review of Sustainable Construction Project Financing: Policies, Practices, and Research Efforts. Sustainability, 16 December.pp. 1-
17.
Sruthi P. and Gokuldeepan K., 2018. Design of net zero energy residential building. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, 4(3), pp. 1395-
1396.