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Moghaddasi, H.
Culp, C.
Vanegas, J.
Ehsani, M.
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Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement
Haleh Moghaddasi
1,* ,
Charles Culp
Jorge Vanegas
1 and
Mehrdad Ehsani
Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Academic Editor: Carolyn S. Hayles
Energies 2021, 14(13), 3760; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133760
Received: 25 May 2021 / Revised: 14 June 2021 / Accepted: 17 June 2021 / Published: 23 June 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Sustainable Built Environments)
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Buildings contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that cause environmental impacts on climate change. Net Zero Energy (NZ) buildings would reduce greenhouse gases. The current definition of NZ lacks consensus and has created uncertainties, which cause delays in the adoption of NZ. This paper proposes a Process for Clarification to Accelerate the Net Zero (PC-A-NZ) through three integrated steps: variations, strategies, and requirements. We expand on the results in published NZ literature to clarify the differences in definition and strategy. The objective of this review is to (1) distinguish current variable parameters that are slowing the acceptance of NZ, and (2) focus the discussion internationally on moving faster toward applying NZ to a larger common agreement. The publications of global NZ target assessment and energy efficient strategies will be reviewed to address the main requirements in expediting NZ's successful progress. Our NZ review analysis highlights (1) how the existing NZ definitions and criteria differ, (2) how calculation strategies vary, and (3) how standards and requirements are often localized. The proposed PC-A-NZ will help policymakers and stakeholders to re-evaluate the existing definitions, standards, and requirements to optimize the use of renewable technologies, improved energy efficiency and electrification to speed up achieving the NZ targets. Definition: There are multiple NZ definitions that vary in source and supply requirement, timescale, emission source, and grid connection. View Full-Text
Keywords: climate action target; net zero energy building; net zero variation; energy efficiency strategy; electrification; renewable energy; decarbonization; net zero standard climate action target; net zero energy building; net zero variation; energy efficiency strategy; electrification; renewable energy; decarbonization; net zero standard
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
MDPI and ACS Style
Moghaddasi, H.; Culp, C.; Vanegas, J.; Ehsani, M. Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement. Energies 2021, 14, 3760. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133760
Moghaddasi H, Culp C, Vanegas J, Ehsani M. Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement. Energies. 2021; 14(13):3760. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133760
Chicago/Turabian Style
Moghaddasi, Haleh, Charles Culp, Jorge Vanegas, and Mehrdad Ehsani. 2021. "Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement" Energies 14, no. 13: 3760. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133760
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Haleh Moghaddasi is a doctoral candidate in Net Zero Energy, in College of Architecture, and a Graduate Fellow at the Texas A&M University. Her dissertation will clarify the existing net zero community concept. Her research has acknowledged in multiple awards and recognitions, including TAMU Dissertation Fellowship Award, Academic Excellence Award, Paul M Terrill '57 Endowed Scholarship, History Maker Homes scholarship, Susan M. Arseven Make-a-Difference Memorial award from women in science and engineering, and SIAWE Scholarships from the Society of Iranian American Women for Education. She was also selected as a winner of the Emerging Scholar Award at the 2020 Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability in Chile. Haleh has earned two master's degrees, one in sustainable systems from Rochester Institute of Technology in NY, one in architecture and design from Yerevan State University of Architecture in Armenia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering in Iran.
Dr. Charles Culp is the Associate Director of the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL), and a Professor in the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M University. His teaching encompasses high performance building design and simulation, environmental design, and HVAC courses. Dr. Culp holds more than 40 patents. His research involves developing a new refrigerant-free air conditioner, software to find energy efficiency opportunities in buildings, and residential energy efficiency technologies. He is currently a voting member of ASHRAE's Technology Council and Residential Building Committee. Dr. Culp received a B.S. in Physics with highest honors from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics with an Electrical Engineering minor from Iowa State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, has a LEED-AP certification from the US Green Building Council, and has a High Performance Building Design Professional certification from ASHRAE.
Jorge Vanegas has served as dean of the Texas A&M University College of Architecture for the last 12 years. He holds leadership positions, including President of the Pan American Academy of Engineering; Director of the Institute for Sustainable Communities; and Professor in the Department of Architecture and Texas Engineering Experiment Station. Vanegas is a registered architect in Colombia and holds a degree in Architecture from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. He earned his master of science and doctorate degrees in Construction Engineering and Management from Stanford University, California. He has received multiple awards for his scholarly accomplishments.
Dr. Mehrdad Ehsani (S'70–M'81–SM'83–F'96–LF'5) is the Robert M. Kennedy Professor of Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. He is the Co-Author of more than 400 technical papers, 17 books, an IEEE standards book, and 30 US and EU patents. Dr. Ehsani is a Fellow of SAE, a Distinguished Speaker of several IEEE societies, a consultant to more than 60 US and international companies and government agencies, and a registered Professional engineer in the state of Texas. He has led several international conferences and has served on the governing bodies of IEEE Power Electronics Society, Industry Applications Society, and Vehicular Technology Society. He was a recipient of more than 130 prize paper and other awards in IEEE and others, including IEEE-VTS Avant Garde Award for his contributions to the hybrid electric vehicle technology and the 2003 IEEE field award in undergraduate teaching.
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