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Title: Analysis of Different Methods for Computing Source Energy in the Context of Zero Energy Buildings

Abstract

Building energy consumption can only be measured at the site or at the point of utility interconnection with a building. Often, to evaluate the total energy impact, this site-based energy consumption is translated into source energy, that is, the energy at the point of fuel extraction. Consistent with this approach, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) definition of zero energy buildings uses source energy as the metric to account for energy losses from the extraction, transformation, and delivery of energy. Other organizations, as well, use source energy to characterize the energy impacts. Four methods of making the conversion from site energy to source energy were investigated in the context of the DOE definition of zero energy buildings. These methods were evaluated based on three guiding principles--improve energy efficiency, reduce and stabilize power demand, and use power from nonrenewable energy sources as efficiently as possible. This study examines relative trends between strategies as they are implemented on very low-energy buildings to achieve zero energy. A typical office building was modeled and variations to this model performed. The photovoltaic output that was required to create a zero energy building was calculated. Trends were examined with these variations to study the impacts ofmore » the calculation method on the building's ability to achieve zero energy status. The paper will highlight the different methods and give conclusions on the advantages and disadvantages of the methods studied.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1324391
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5500-67078
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at the 2016 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 21-26 August 2016, Pacific Grove, California
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; building energy consumption; zero energy buildings

Citation Formats

Torcellini, Paul A., Bonnema, Eric, Goldwasser, David, and Pless, Shanti. Analysis of Different Methods for Computing Source Energy in the Context of Zero Energy Buildings. United States: N. p., 2016. Web.
Torcellini, Paul A., Bonnema, Eric, Goldwasser, David, & Pless, Shanti. Analysis of Different Methods for Computing Source Energy in the Context of Zero Energy Buildings. United States.
Torcellini, Paul A., Bonnema, Eric, Goldwasser, David, and Pless, Shanti. 2016. "Analysis of Different Methods for Computing Source Energy in the Context of Zero Energy Buildings". United States.
@article{osti_1324391,
title = {Analysis of Different Methods for Computing Source Energy in the Context of Zero Energy Buildings},
author = {Torcellini, Paul A. and Bonnema, Eric and Goldwasser, David and Pless, Shanti},
abstractNote = {Building energy consumption can only be measured at the site or at the point of utility interconnection with a building. Often, to evaluate the total energy impact, this site-based energy consumption is translated into source energy, that is, the energy at the point of fuel extraction. Consistent with this approach, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) definition of zero energy buildings uses source energy as the metric to account for energy losses from the extraction, transformation, and delivery of energy. Other organizations, as well, use source energy to characterize the energy impacts. Four methods of making the conversion from site energy to source energy were investigated in the context of the DOE definition of zero energy buildings. These methods were evaluated based on three guiding principles--improve energy efficiency, reduce and stabilize power demand, and use power from nonrenewable energy sources as efficiently as possible. This study examines relative trends between strategies as they are implemented on very low-energy buildings to achieve zero energy. A typical office building was modeled and variations to this model performed. The photovoltaic output that was required to create a zero energy building was calculated. Trends were examined with these variations to study the impacts of the calculation method on the building's ability to achieve zero energy status. The paper will highlight the different methods and give conclusions on the advantages and disadvantages of the methods studied.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1324391}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Conference:
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