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Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement

Author

Listed:
  • Haleh Moghaddasi

    (Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Charles Culp

    (Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Jorge Vanegas

    (Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Mehrdad Ehsani

    (Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Haleh Moghaddasi & Charles Culp & Jorge Vanegas & Mehrdad Ehsani, 2021. "Net Zero Energy Buildings: Variations, Clarifications, and Requirements in Response to the Paris Agreement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3760-:d:580442
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    Cited by:

    1. Haleh Moghaddasi & Charles Culp & Jorge Vanegas, 2021. "Net Zero Energy Communities: Integrated Power System, Building and Transport Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-33, October.
    2. Praveen Cheekatamarla & Kashif Nawaz, 2022. "Global Building Decarbonization Trends and Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-3, November.
    3. Paul Plachinda & Julia Morgan & Maria Coelho, 2022. "Towards Net Zero: Modeling Approach to the Right-Sized Facilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Ongpeng, Jason Maximino C. & Rabe, Brian Immanuel B. & Razon, Luis F. & Aviso, Kathleen B. & Tan, Raymond R., 2022. "A multi-criterion decision analysis framework for sustainable energy retrofit in buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
    5. Agnieszka Napiorkowska-Baryla & Miroslawa Witkowska-Dabrowska & Natalia Swidynska, 2022. "Financing of Activities Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 690-712.
    6. Ali Ghofrani & Esmat Zaidan & Mohsen Jafari, 2021. "Reshaping energy policy based on social and human dimensions: an analysis of human-building interactions among societies in transition in GCC countries," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Gamal Ali Mohammed & Mahmoud Mabrouk & Guoqing He & Karim I. Abdrabo, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Cities: A Review of Zero Energy Buildings Techniques and Global Activities in Residential Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Tuğçe Demirdelen & İnayet Özge Aksu & Kübra Yilmaz & Duygu Durdu Koç & Miray Arikan & Arif Şener, 2023. "Investigation of the Carbon Footprint of the Textile Industry: PES- and PP-Based Products with Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.
    9. Rui Liang & Xichuan Zheng & Jia Liang & Linhui Hu, 2023. "Energy Efficiency Model Construction of Building Carbon Neutrality Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.
    10. Filippos Lygerakis & Nikos Kampelis & Dionysia Kolokotsa, 2022. "Knowledge Graphs’ Ontologies and Applications for Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-32, October.
    11. David Borge-Diez, 2022. "Advanced Energy Efficiency Systems in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-3, October.
    12. Quddus Tushar & Guomin Zhang & Satheeskumar Navaratnam & Muhammed A. Bhuiyan & Lei Hou & Filippo Giustozzi, 2023. "A Review of Evaluative Measures of Carbon-Neutral Buildings: The Bibliometric and Science Mapping Analysis towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-31, October.
    13. Haleh Moghaddasi & Charles Culp & Jorge Vanegas & Saptarshi Das & Mehrdad Ehsani, 2022. "An Adaptable Net Zero Model: Energy Analysis of a Monitored Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.

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