This course addresses the criteria which defines: What is a zero energy consumption building. A net zero-energy building (ZEB) is a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced energy needs, through efficiency gains such that the balance of energy needs can be supplied with renewable technologies. Despite the excitement over the phrase “zero energy,” we lack a common definition, or even a common understanding, of what it means. In this course, we use a sample of current generation low-energy buildings to explore the concept of zero energy.

Learning Objectives

• what the concept of zero energy means
• why a clear and measurable definition is needed
• how we have progressed toward the ZEB goal