Research Paper Publication format for Seminar on Ekistics:
Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building
Pankaj Prabhakar
Delhi Technical Campus, 05718001618@delhitechnicalcampus.ac.in
Rahul Pandit
Delhi Technical Campus, 08918001618@delhitechnicalcampus.ac.in
Vinita Kumari
Delhi Technical Campus, 07418001618@delhitechnicalcampus.ac.in
Abstract - Amid growing concerns about the rising energy
crisis, energy independence, and the impact of climate
change, statistics show buildings to be the primary energy
consumer in India. This fact underscores the importance
of targeting building energy use as a key to decreasing the
nation's energy consumption. The building sector can
significantly reduce energy use by incorporating energy-
efficient strategies into the design, construction, and
operation of new buildings and undertaking retrofits to
improve the efficiency of existing buildings.
In this research, the concept for the net Zero-Energy
Building (ZEB) is introduced by using Designing
Strategies and features that reduce the demand-side. Once
building loads are reduced, the loads should be met with
efficient equipment and systems. This includes energy-
efficient lighting, electric lighting controls, high-
performance HVAC, and geothermal heat pumps.
Further using On-site and Offsite Renewable energy and
giving brief discussions on the benefits of the zero
buildings.
Index Terms – Net-zero, Energy, Building, Renewable
INTRODUCTION
According to the present scenario of climate change and
environmental degradation by the release of greenhouse gases
emissions into the atmosphere, the building division is one of
the biggest consumers of energy and responsible for
considerable energy-related carbon dioxide emissions
worldwide. The rapid growth of population and urbanization
is leading to enormous demand for buildings in India.
India is a developing country and has become one of the major
energy consumers in the world. This is due to industrial
growth and globalization which increases the energy demand
of the consumers. It is reported in the literature that the urban
areas contribute 70% and the housing construction and estate
development contribute 40% to the GHG emissions. Few
researchers reported that the buildings contribute
approximately 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of GHG
Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari
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emissions, 50% of water pollution, and 48% of solid waste to
the environment.
WHAT IS ZERO ENERGY BUILDING?
A zero-energy building with zero net energy consumption.
The total amount of energy used by the building on an annual
basis is roughly equal to the amount of energy generated on
the site through renewable sources.
These buildings consequently contribute less overall
greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, similar to non-zero energy
buildings.
WHAT MAKES AN ZEB?
• Site selection and orientation
• Passive solar design
• Building envelope design
• Low energy consumption
• Active energy system.
AIM
To study the design of a more efficient building that
eliminates the net energy consumption.
OBJECTIVE
• To understand the strategies on which Zero Energy
Building depends.
• To study how the strategies are implemented in the
existing Zero Energy Buildings.
• To form the recommendation based on our studies on
how to implement these strategies to make a more
efficient building.
NEED
The need for alternative energy sources is getting urgent,
designing a more efficient building that reduces the net
energy consumption.
The first problem is that fossil fuels are depleting at a rapid
rate and are harder to retrieve. The consequence is that we
Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building
can be facing an energy crisis in the future if we are not
careful today. The energy prices will increase and not be
available for many peoples. To avoid this ongoing scenario,
we need to find alternatives and use them to their full
potential.
The second problem is that the fossil fuels that are widely
used today are harmful to the environment. Today the
negative effects are visible. The earth is warming up and the
climate is changing. There are parts in the world where there
will be more rain and sunshine and other parts will become
dryer than they already are. Furthermore, the depletion of the
ozone layer leads to the warming up of the earth.
These two effects complement each other and make it even
more crucial to take another step in a different direction.
This step leads us to the need of the below: -
• Support for efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and
improve people’s environment.
• Making a major contribution to climate change strategies.
• Making a major contribution to sustainable development.
• Securing energy supplies for future generations.
• Helping to fill the predicted energy gap due to population
increase.
• Investing in not only fossil fuels but also renewable
sources.
• Improving occupant comfort in buildings.
• Reducing operational costs of buildings by reducing
energy demand.
LITERATURE REVIEWS
NZEBs depends on the early identification of goals coupled
with informed decision making in the selection of design
strategies and technologies to be used.
There are two main strategies to achieve net-zero energy
building as these strategies are interrelated to each other, so
it is very important to analyze each strategy and implement
them in effective ways. They are:
• Passive Design Strategies
• Active Design Strategies
I. PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
Passive design strategies are the approaches to building
design that uses the building architecture to minimize energy
consumption. Some of the passive design strategies are
described below:
• FORM & ORIENTATION: Form and orientation
constitute two of the most important passive design
strategies for reducing energy consumption and
improving thermal comfort for occupants of a building.
• SHADING: External shading devices are essential
environmental controls that either obviate or greatly
reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling to
maintain thermal comfort inside buildings, by controlling
heat gain through openings.
Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari
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• COOL ROOFS: Cool roofs use solar-reflective surfaces
to maintain lower roof temperatures. Highly reflective
and light-colored roofs have now become an inclusive
part of energy efficiency measures in a building.
• FENESTRATION: Fenestrations (windows, skylights, &
other openings in a building, etc.) allow daylight and the
prevailing wind inside the building when needed.
• INSULATION
Thermal insulation in walls and roofs reduces heat transfer
between the inside and outside and helps maintain
comfortable indoor temperatures.
• DAYLIGHTING
Daylighting is a building design strategy to use light from
the sun. The presence of natural light in an occupied space
brings a sense of wellbeing, increases awareness of one’s
surroundings, and also increases energy saving potential
with reduced dependence on artificial light.
• NATURAL VENTILATION: Fresh air in a building
brings health benefits and increased comfort levels to its
occupants. Fresh air provision is considered an efficient
and healthy solution as it reduces the need for mechanical
means to ventilate a building.
• THERMAL MASS: Thermal mass helps to store heat
within the building structure and moderate fluctuations in
the indoor temperature. This heat-storing capacity of
building material helps in achieving thermal comfort for
occupants by providing time delay.
• EVAPORATIVE COOLING: Evaporative cooling
lowers the indoor air temperature thus lowering the
energy cost for air-conditioning in buildings. Reduced
energy load contributes towards meeting the NZEB
design goals.
• THERMAL COMFORT: Thermal comfort is an
assessment of the thermal condition of the surroundings.
Thermal comfort is defined as “That condition of mind
that expresses satisfaction with the thermal
environment”.
• VEGETATION: Vegetation is a flexible controller of
solar and wind penetration in buildings. It reduces direct
sun from striking and heating up building surfaces and
lowers the outside air temperature which in turn affects
the heat transfer from outside to building envelope and
interior.
II. ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
Active design strategies use purchased energy (including
electricity and natural gas) to keep buildings comfortable.
These strategies include mechanical system components.
Active strategies also include systems that generate energy
such as solar electric and solar thermal panels, wind
turbines, and geothermal energy exchangers.
Some of the passive design strategies are described below:
Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building
• HVAC The Unnati Office Building is the regional headquarter
(North) for Gainwell Commosales Pvt. Ltd., part of a larger
• Lighting 5-acre campus. It is the first building in India to be certified
• Efficient Appliances Platinum under LEED v4 BD+C: NC rating in 2018. The
• Renewable Energy building performs 59% better than a conventional office
building in the region, and 40% of the building energy
I. HVAC consumption is met through on-site renewable energy
Although passive measures will improve thermal comfort, generation.
air-conditioning may still be required for maintaining comfort PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
conditions through the year. The design as well as efficiency
of HVAC systems could further impact the energy • Orientation: The three-story building is a cuboid with a
consumption of buildings. Comfort systems contribute to central courtyard. It is oriented northeast-southwest, with
nearly 40 percent of the energy used by commercial buildings the core areas distributed in the east and the west
in India. Many types of comfort systems are available in orientations. Passive design strategies have been
market ranging from low energy comfort systems to integrated with the building design.
conventional systems. Design of a building, climatic zone, • Landscaping: The landscape is a mix of existing and new
and operational parameters governs the energy requirement vegetation. 30% of the site is un-built, of which 25% is
for the comfort system. covered with shrubs and trees. Only native vegetation has
II. Lighting been planted to reduce irrigation water volume as well as
pump energy. Treated wastewater is used for irrigation.
Lighting energy accounts for more than a quarter of total
energy consumption in buildings. It is therefore important to • Daylighting:90% of the office spaces, including the core
optimize lighting energy use to achieve net zero goals. and service areas, receive uniformly distributed daylight.
Energy efficient lighting fixtures are now readily available This can be attributed to the form, central courtyard,
in the market. Daylighting controls as well as occupancy shallow floor plates, appropriate sizing, and distribution
sensors could further reduce lighting energy use. of openings. All the windows have box shading that
prevents glare.
III. Efficient Appliances • Ventilation: A design ventilation rate of 30% additional
Efficiency in appliances can go a long way in using energy outdoor air over ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 enhances
judiciously in buildings. It depends on both – appliances the indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Passive design
features reduce the total diversified AC load to 208 kW
users buy, and the way they are used. This section advises on for 3740 m2 (80 tons for 33,500 ft2).
choices available to users, parameters for selecting the right
appliances, and good usage practices. • Building Envelope and Fenestration: Climatically
responsive façade concepts, including green walls and
III. Renewable Energy
shading on all windows, protect the interiors from direct
Renewable energy systems are the final step to attaining zero sun and reduce heat gain.
energy goals. Once all possible measures to reduce energy All external surfaces, including the walls, roof, and
demand are deployed, renewable energy systems must step in foundation, are insulated (using polystyrene panels) on
to balance residual energy demand. Performance of the exterior.
renewable energy systems determines the success of the net- Truss reinforced insulated concrete panels (TRIC) used
zero buildings. for the exterior walls are 25 mm concrete (AAC), 60 mm
expanded polystyrene (EPS), and 25 mm concrete
CASE STUDY
(AAC), and 10 mm plaster.
I. UNNATI OFFICE GREATER NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH The green roof insulation materials are 13 mm extruded
polystyrene insulation and a 300 mm layer of green roof
TABLE I
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BUILDING
soil substrate.
The Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is 30%, which helps
Location Greater Noida
Coordinates 29° N, 78° E
ensure maximum daylighting potential with minimum
Occupancy Type Office, Private solar heat gains.
Typology New Construction High-performance envelope insulation leads to a 54%
Climate Type Composite reduction in energy use (compared with the ASHRAE/
Project Area 3,740 m2
Date of Completion 2018
IESNA Standard 90.1-2010 baseline).
Grid Connectivity Grid-connected High-performance double-glazed windows provide
EPI 60 kWh/m2/yr improved protection against sunlight with integrated
motorized blinds and shading (efficient glazing balancing
low thermal conductivity and shading coefficient).

Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building

3
ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
• Lighting Design: An energy-efficient lighting system
with daylighting controls is used.
Energy-efficient fixtures and ballasts contribute to a 66%
reduction in lighting energy compared to Standard 90.1-
2010.
Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like
storage areas, toilets, and mechanical rooms minimize
lighting use.
Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and
reduced air-conditioning load in those spaces.
Approximately 90% of the total regularly occupied
spaces in the building have an illuminance level of 300-
3000 lux measured on the clearest sky conditions. A
lighting power density (LPD) of 3.6W/m2 in all occupied
spaces is significantly lower than the Standard 90.1-2010
baseline of 10.9 W/m2.
The building uses energy-saving technologies associated
with the electrical power supply system/building
management system.
• Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system: The
building has a hybrid HVAC system which is a
combination of water-cooled air handling units and a
ceiling-embedded radiant cooling system.
The cooling load distribution of the system is such that
55% of the load is met by the radiant cooling system and
45% by AHUs.
The cooling load for the project is around 90 TR for
which 2# 80 TR screw chillers (1 Working + 1 Stand-by)
are provided.
Based on indoor design conditions of 24°C and 55%
relative humidity, the room dew-point temperature is
12°C and chilled water is supplied at a temperature of
7°C to avoid any condensation on surfaces.
• Indoor Air Quality: Dry outdoor ventilation air is
supplied through an externally mounted unit that
dehumidifies the air before it is supplied to occupied
space. This dry outdoor air acts as primary air to the
chilled beams.
The air quality is monitored inside the entire building
with help of CO2 sensors which provide an audible alarm
The DOAS system starts at 8 a.m. to remove moisture
that builds up during unoccupied hours and brings down
the temperature to the desired level before office start-up.
Metering and Monitoring: Advanced energy metered
systems include the main incoming power supply,
chillers, internal lighting, external lighting, air-handling
units, the water supply system, the sewage treatment
plant, and the solar PV system.
• Commissioning: The project incorporated ASHRAE-
recommended commissioning methodology, using a
third-party commissioning agent and energy auditor.
Commissioning through all four phases – design,
construction, acceptance, and occupancy – ensuring
Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari
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proper implementation of the building envelope,
mechanical and electrical systems.
• Renewable energy: The building draws 40% of its energy
from the roof-top PV plant. They installed 100 kW solar
PV generates 146 MWh/yr.
II. BAYER MATERIAL SCIENCE BUILDING (NOIDA)
TABLE II
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BUILDING
Location Noida
Coordinates 28° N, 77° E
Occupancy Type Office, Private
Typology New Construction
Climate Type Composite
Project Area 891 m2
Date of Completion 2018
Grid Connectivity Grid-connected
EPI 72 kWh/m2/yr
The Eco Commercial Building is part of the Bayer Climate
Program which seeks to reduce the company’s greenhouse
gas emissions and improve energy and resource efficiency.
This administration building is energy self-sufficient and
requires 70 percent less electricity compared to similar
buildings in this region.
PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
• Orientation: Detailed analysis of environmental
conditions was conducted to choose an orientation that
would optimize building energy performance. The
building form helps reduce heat gain or loss.
• Landscaping: Native and indige­nous species were
selected for landscaping, eliminating the need for regular
irrigation. To help establish the new landscaping, plants
were watered twice a day for the first two years.
• Daylighting: Daylighting is maximized in all occupied
spaces. Appropriate shading devices designed through
simulation software are used to minimize glare.
Integrated motorized blinds are used for occupants’
visual comfort.
• Ventilation: A design ventilation rate of 30% additional
outdoor air over that specified in ASHRAE Standard
62.1-2004 enhances the indoor air quality within the
build­ing and provides superior occupant comfort.
Passive design features resulted in a total diversified AC
load of 84 kW for 891 m2 (24 tons for 9,600 ft2).
• Building Envelope and Fenestration: Climatically
responsive façade design, including a roof that projects
beyond all four sides of the building, protecting it from
direct sun and reducing heat gain.
All external surfaces, including the walls, roof, and
foundation, are insulated on the exterior using
polyurethane panels.
Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building
 Exterior wall assembly is composed of 150 mm (6 in.)
autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), fly-ash blockwork,
and 75 mm (3 in.) polyurethane foam (PUF).
Roof insulation materials are 75 mm (3 in.) rigid
polyurethane insulation and a 50 mm (2 in.) layer of
mineral wool.
The Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is 33.8%, which helps
ensure maximum daylighting potential with minimum
solar heat gains.
High-performance envelope insulation leads to a 40%
reduction in energy use compared with the ASHRAE/
IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 baseline.
High-performance double-glazed windows with
integrated motorized blinds provide improved protection
against sunlight. Efficient glazing balances the low
thermal conductivity and shading coefficient.
• Materials and Constructions Techniques: The building
uses regional building materials with recycled content.
Low VOC paints, sealants, coatings, and adhesives have
been used wherever possible.
ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
• Lighting Design: An energy-efficient lighting system
with daylighting controls is used. Energy-efficient
fixtures and ballasts contribute to a 37% reduction in
lighting energy compared to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-
2004. The building uses a combination of energy-
efficient T5 linear fluores­cent lamps and compact
fluorescent lamps.
Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like
storage areas, toilets, and mechanical rooms mini­mize
lighting use.
Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and
reduced air-conditioning load in those spaces.
Approximately 87% of regu­larly occupied spaces in the
build­ing have a minimum daylight factor of 2%. A
lighting power density (LPD) of 7.2 W/m2 (0.67 W/ft2)
in all occupied spaces is significantly lower than the
ASHRAE Standard 1-2004 baseline of 11.8 W/m2 (1.1
W/ft2).
The building uses energy-sav­ing technologies
associated with the electrical power supply
sys­tem/building management system.
• Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system: Chilled
beams for radiant cooling eliminate energy that would be
used for supply fans. Chilled water is supplied at 15°C
(59°F) rather than at the conventional 7°C (45°F). Based
on indoor design conditions of 24°C (75°F) and 55%
relative humidity, the room dew-point tem­perature is
14°C (57°F) and chilled water is supplied at a
Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari
5
temperature 1°C (0.6°F) higher (at 15°C [59°F]) to avoid
any condensation on surfaces.
• Indoor Air Quality: Dry outdoor ventilation air is
sup­plied through an externally mounted unit that
dehumidifies the air before it is supplied to occupied
space. This dry outdoor air acts as primary air to the
chilled beams.
Air quality is monitored inside the entire building with
the help of CO2 sensors located 1.8 m (6 ft.) above the
floor level in various spaces. These sensors provide an
audible alarm to the operator when the dif­ference
between outdoor and indoor CO2 levels exceeds 530
ppm.
Demand Outdoor Air System (DOAS) starts at 7 a.m. to
remove moisture that builds up dur­ing unoccupied hours
and brings down the temperature to the desired level
before office operational hours start.
DOAS recovers heat from the building’s exhaust air.
Dehumidified cold exhaust air from the bathrooms and
office space is collected in each service core. This air
enters one side of the rotating heat wheel, chilling the
wheel and drying the desiccant coating. This cool and dry
part of the wheel then rotates into the outdoor air stream
where it absorbs heat and humidity from the incoming
ventilation air before it is cooled to room temperature in
the air-han­dling unit (AHU) room. The energy recovery
wheel reduces the ventila­tion load by 80%, minimizing
operating energy and the size of air-conditioning
equipment.
• Commissioning: The project incorporated ASHRAE-
recommended commissioning meth­odology and used a
third-party commis­sioning agent and energy auditor.
Design phase commissioning provided early input for
incorporation monitoring mechanisms to facilitate
successful operation and maintenance by building staff.
Construction phase commissioning ensured proper
implementation of mechanical and electrical systems.
Acceptance phase commissioning required contractors to
dem­onstrate the operation of the equip­ment as per
design intent.
Occupancy phase commissioning focused on proper
operation of the systems by the operation and
maintenance (O&M) staff.
Ongoing commissioning peri­odically verifies
operational methods and equipment performance.
Metered systems include the main incoming power
supply, chillers, internal lighting, external lighting, air-
handling units, water supply system, sewage treatment
plant, and the solar PV system.
• Renewable Energy: Draws 100% of its energy from roof-
top PV plants. The 57 kW PV plant generates 88.9
Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building
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Pankaj Prabhakar, Rahul Pandit, Vinita Kumari Efficiency Evaluation of Net Zero Energy Building