Zero Energy Buildings

The problem is clear. So, what can be done?

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions. The concept of a smart city – a city that embraces Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies to make lives better – is nothing new, but it is a notion that has historically worked best when ecosystems are built from scratch.

Masdar City, for example, is a pre-planned city that has created a “green print” for sustainable urban development. Located in Abu Dhabi, clean energy, sustainable real estate and clean technology have been a top priority for the city since its inception in 2008.

The results seen from pre-planned smart cities are impressive and provide inspiration, but urban centers that have been around for hundreds of years do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. These cities require a different approach: creating change one building at a time.

Taking a collective approach to achieve carbon neutrality

There is power in numbers – this is especially true when tackling a global problem such as climate change. The EU Commission has established a mission that will support and promote 100 European cities in their systemic transformation toward climate neutrality by 2030, and Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) members aim to achieve carbon neutrality within the next 10-20 years.

New York City, New York, USA, is part of the CNCA and has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, plans to shift building and transportation energy use in the entire city to 100 percent renewables before 2050. Although these may seem like lofty goals at first glance, making drastic changes is the only way cities will be able to meet the limit temperature goals set forward in The Paris Agreement – a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

The numbers don’t lie - the important role buildings play

Buildings consume about 30 percent of the world’s energy via their construction and operations, and account for almost 40 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions according the IEA. Unfortunately, despite current efforts, energy use in the buildings sector has continued to increase steadily since 2000.

While disappointing to see that not more progress has been made, the good news is that a scenario highlighted in a 2019 IEA report found, “Efficient and clean energy technology solutions, coupled with low-carbon power generation, cut buildings-related CO2 emissions by 87 percent by 2050, while global floor area nearly doubles.” This shows that if sustainability is really made a priority – both for new and retrofit buildings – the industry can make a real impact.

Take the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, as an example. It is a state-of-the-art entertainment building that made sustainability a priority from the start. The arena has full connectivity and 24/7 control, from air conditioning and lighting to access control, energy management and building operation. In its first 12 months in operation alone, T-Mobile Arena saved about 18 percent on its energy.

Working with what you’ve got – retrofitting for net neutrality

Integrating technology from the start can produce impressive results, but there are millions of buildings around the world that must be retrofitted – in New York City alone there are an estimated 1 million buildings. For those looking to make changes in established cities, the good news is that software and digital technologies create a second mover advantage. Any building can be digitally retrofitted to become both smart and sustainable.

The historic, century-old Fort-Garry Hotel, Spa and Conference Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is one building that made what was once old, new. Prior to its upgrade, the Fort Garry Hotel was facing pressure from rising energy costs, increased regulation and the need to improve operational efficiency as the hotel used a lot of energy and was not insulated to modern standards.

The hotel was built with steam heat and no air conditioning, and all adjustments to temperature, airflow and steam in ballrooms, common areas and the spa were done manually as a reaction to complaints. By utilizing advanced guest room and building management software, systems and connected devices to add a layer of intelligence to existing systems, enabling automation, visibility and control of environmental conditions, the hotel experienced an impressive 20 percent reduction in energy consumer and 25 percent reduction in maintenance staff hours. They now have a modern hotel in a historic building; and old system with new brains.

So, what does zero energy buildings really mean?

The goal for many buildings is to achieve carbon neutrality. According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, zero energy buildings combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as can be produced on site through renewable resources over a specified time period.

While there is no one-size-fits-all or one-size-solves-all approach, here are a few aspects to creating smarter and more sustainable buildings:

• Become ultra-efficient. Develop a smart, connected infrastructure that produces, stores, distributes and shares power.

• Become fully electric. Heating electrification has proven to be many times more efficient than traditional fossil-fuel based systems, and ultimately economically competitive in most regions of the world, particularly when associated with airconditioning.

• Use retrofits solutions. Circular economy is today’s alternative to the “take, make and dispose” industrial model. It redefines products and services, minimizes waste and saves money. Thanks to retrofit solutions, this “re” concept (reuse, refurbish, recycle, renew, etc.) is applicable to electrical distribution equipment. Obsolete components can be refurbished, repaired or recycled to minimize waste, leading to a prolonged operational life cycle and less cost – according to estimates, savings can range from 43 to 65 percent.

The future is self-healing buildings

It takes a commitment to create zero energy buildings, but the technology is available to make it a reality. The next question is – why stop there?

This leads to a fourth consideration when creating sustainable buildings. Systems should be ready to rely on local (renewable) generation and work with flexible residential-owned energy sources, connected to modern and digitalized grids, to increase overall system resiliency. This will lead to buildings having the ability generate their own energy and become energy positive – or what some call self-healing buildings.

Self-healing buildings will crop up especially fast in areas where the energy generation aspect is more easily imagined. In turn, buildings will be part of the solution (rather than the problem) as they become value-adding energy generation assets that strengthen grid resilience and help mitigate grid disturbances through microgrids, which operate autonomously and utilize renewable energy such as solar. Not only will this help save the earth, but it will also help with energy continuity during natural disasters.

A look ahead – what’s needed to achieve net neutrality & self-healing buildings

The transition to sustainable practices is going to take coordination between governments, industry and builders. Regulations must be enforced by government mandates, industry must freely share best practices and innovate to create technology that is accessible and affordable for all, and builders must prioritize technology from the start.

The time to act is now. Together, cities, building developers, FMs and solution providers can rise up to the challenge and embrace sustainable practices to ensure generations have a safe and healthy place to live.