Two of the net zero homes will be outfitted with Carrier Infinity heat pumps with Greenspeed intelligence, while the other two will receive an Infinity geothermal and ductless system, respectively. The Infinity systems are Carrier’s most efficient and will provide high efficiency climate control that’s essential to a net zero home.
State and local regulations are driving new building construction as well as existing buildings to implement energy-efficient technologies in order to meet future carbon emissions reduction goals. These facilities, known as high-performance buildings, strive to deliver optimal efficiency, reliability, value, and comfort to tenants.
Demolishing old homes to build new, eco-friendly ones from scratch isn’t an option when there are 84 million of them already standing. The time, cost, and displacement involved make it silly. And that’s to say nothing of the sheer waste of materials from bulldozing, which would defeat the whole purpose.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) has awarded a $170 million, 23-year energy savings performance contract to Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp., for an energy conservation and distributed generation project at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia.
The Santa Monica City Council voted to approve an ordinance requiring all new single-family construction in the city of Santa Monica to be zero net energy (ZNE), believed to be the first ordinance of its kind.
Other countries in select regions, such as Europe and Asia-Pacific, are also beginning to follow suit with ZNE initiatives and energy-efficient building codes. According to a report from the research firm, North America is expected to lead the ZNEH market from 2015-2025.
Although still emerging, the market for zero net energy homes (ZNEHs) is expected to be led by new construction in North America, notes Navigant Research. Other countries in select regions, such as Europe and Asia-Pacific, are also beginning to follow suit.
As net-zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) become more popular, HVACR manufacturers are working to create highly efficient products and systems to help meet these ambitious performance goals.
With commercial building codes mandating increasing levels of efficiency and energy prices only continuing to rise, many building owners are looking for ways to boost building performance in both new and existing buildings. These case studies highlight several ways in which HVACR solutions have been implemented to help building owners meet their energy-efficiency and comfort goals.
PulteGroup Inc. announced it has completed construction of its zero net energy (ZNE) home prototype in Northern California. The new Pulte home, which is designed to generate as much energy as it uses, will be monitored for 12 months to evaluate its performance and identify opportunities for future enhancements.