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Design Professional’s Guide to Zero Net Energy Buildings By Charles Eley
(November 15, 2016) Washington, DC – Buildings are one of the largest energy users in the United States—accounting for more carbon emissions per year than any other sector—and represent enormous opportunities to save energy and reduce environmental impact. As such, interest in Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings, which produce as much energy as they use over the course of a year, has been growing rapidly. ZNE buildings are a practical and cost-effective way to reduce our energy needs, employ clean solar and wind technologies, protect the environment, and improve our lives. But while ZNE buildings are an energizing concept that is broadly accepted, there is little information on what is required to actually meet these goals. In Design Professional’s Guide to Zero Net Energy Buildings (Publication Date: November 15, 2016), Charles Eley presents a practical, accessible guide to developing ZNE buildings. The book draws from over 40 years of Eley’s own experience as an architect and mechanical engineer, as well as interviews with other industry experts and data from select ZNE buildings to lay out the principles for achieving ZNE buildings and the issues surrounding their development. In the book, Eley emphasizes the importance of building energy use in achieving a sustainable future, describes how building energy use can be minimized through smart design and energy efficiency technologies, and presents practical information on how to incorporate renewable energy technologies to meet the lowered energy needs. The book identifies the building types and climates where meeting the goal will be a challenge and offers solutions for these special cases. It shows the reader, through examples and explanations, that these solutions are viable and cost-effective.