Opportunities and challenges with net zero energy buildings

Buildings represent around 41% of the total energy consumption in the US followed closely by industry (31%) and transportation (28%). One of the milestones set by the US Department of Energy is the development and deployment of net zero energy buildings defined as buildings that on a yearly average spend as much energy as they generate using renewable energy sources. Realization of net zero energy buildings require a wide ranges of technologies, systems and solutions with varying degrees of complexity and sophistication depending upon the location and surrounding environmental conditions. Lighting is a dominant load in buildings followed by heating, cooling, ventilation and various plug loads. This paper will address the roles of different technologies, devices and control strategies being developed for low energy buildings leading to net zero energy buildings. These include high efficiency lighting, daylight integration, DC power bus, solar power integration; closed loop integrated control, smart grid interface as well as emerging approaches such as chilled beams and active facades. All of these involve power conversion and controls in one form or the other where high voltage or high power integrated solutions are key to commercial viability. In addition to this, the role of whole building modeling and simulation in the development and deployment of the solutions will be addressed.