Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / Captivated by the sustainable design principles and concepts, this study explores the definition of what is net zero and how has this concept become the new standard in today’s society. By analyzing several case studies, the qualitative and quantitative data will give insight into developing the ideal performance of green and sustainable buildings in relation to a net zero energy focus. The idea of sustainable design began as an economic tool to reduce high energy consumption in order to minimize cost in building construction. Nonetheless, this practice has evolved further into elevating the social and environmental, as well as economic standards of building design in the twenty-first century.

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / This study is an analysis and definition of green building design and zero energy building. This distinguishes the different components that go into net zero building, and the feasibility of making it happen on current buildings, as well as ones in design. The study identifies a building currently in construction on the University of Arizona campus, and identifies its possibility of zero energy and how zero energy would affect the cost and performance of the building. Ultimately it is found that net zero is feasible for the Environmental Natural Resources Building 2 and the University of Arizona, and should be a component in the design and building process of future buildings on campus.

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Thesis advisor: John J. Piderit / This paper examines state and county-exclusive incentives on battery electric vehicle (BEV) registration in the United States. Using two main methods, a differences-in-differences method and a sigmoidal growth rate equation, I examine the impact of non-federal incentives on the total amount of electric vehicles between 2017 and 2022, as well as estimate the years that each state will reach its net-zero goals for carbon emissions in the transportation sector. I hope to provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of incentive policy, based on differing levels of incentive policy between regions, in order to best increase electric vehicle adoption in a cost-effective method. In addition, I hope that my estimates of net-zero projections will serve as a beneficial comparison to track states’ respective progress towards sustainable energy in vehicles. These findings can be used to assist policymakers in determining appropriate BEV adoption policies based on regional consumer demographics and needs, as well as visualize a timeline for the next century of rapid electric vehicle growth. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics. / Discipline: Departmental Honors.

As demand for energy is skyrocketing around the globe, environmental challenges are becoming more severe than ever before. Carbon dioxide, methane gas and other greenhouse gases are rapidly contributing to global warming and ozone depletion phenomenon. Buildings are among major contributors of greenhouse gases. They are consuming more than 40% of total energy and three quarter of the total electricity in the United States. It is to some distance the responsibility of building design professionals to address the impacts of their practice on the environment by reducing the energy consumption and carbon emission of their projects. This thesis aims to create a practical design guideline to help architects design energy-neutral homes in North America. The study's primary emphasis is on reducing building energy demand by implementing core principles of building physics into the design process throughout a case study project. What makes this process unique compared to other existing green design programs is its focus on architect's knowledge to implement core energy saving design strategies into design and evaluate their performance with a normative simulation tool. Selection and analysis of building systems, financial evaluation of cost effective systems and materials, uncertainty analysis of building systems, construction cost estimating and marketing analysis of the case study project, demonstrate simple strategies for designers to use in projects with higher sensitivity. In conclusion, the idea behind this methodology is building marketable energy-neutral homes in the current market with existing materials and none-complex technologies. The success of this design method is depends on the knowledge and skills of architects in building science, architectural design, and building construction. Despite barriers and many uncertainties embedded in this process, moving toward energy-neutral homes will have positive impacts on environment even if it could not reach the Net-Zero balance.

This study demonstrates how the density of a neighbourhood affects its energy demand, metabolism (energy and material flows) and its ability to produce its own energy. Single-family detached houses and row townhouses were each modeled using passive solar housing guidelines with the DesignBuilder building energy simulation software. Energy demand is then modeled within neighbourhoods at two densities based on south facing windows fully un-shaded at 9:00 am, and 12:00 pm solar time on Dec. 21. The neighbourhood metabolisms were then calculated based on location and density. The potential energy supply was evaluated from the spatial characteristics of the neighbourhood (for solar) and the metabolism (municipal solid waste and wastewater flows.) The potential energy demand and supply are then compared for the varying building types and densities to determine the sensitivity of the energy supply and demand relationships.

This study demonstrates how the density of a neighbourhood affects its energy demand, metabolism (energy and material flows) and its ability to produce its own energy. Single-family detached houses and row townhouses were each modeled using passive solar housing guidelines with the DesignBuilder building energy simulation software. Energy demand is then modeled within neighbourhoods at two densities based on south facing windows fully un-shaded at 9:00 am, and 12:00 pm solar time on Dec. 21. The neighbourhood metabolisms were then calculated based on location and density. The potential energy supply was evaluated from the spatial characteristics of the neighbourhood (for solar) and the metabolism (municipal solid waste and wastewater flows.) The potential energy demand and supply are then compared for the varying building types and densities to determine the sensitivity of the energy supply and demand relationships.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Rohit Kadam, for the Master of Science degree in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, presented on DECEMBER 2, 2011, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. (Do not use abbreviations.) TITLE: NET ZERO BUILIND ENERGY CONSERVATION MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Emmanuel Nsofor This research deals with energy studies performed as part of a net-zero energy study for buildings. Measured data of actual energy utilization by a building for a continuous period of 33 months was collected and studied. The peak design day on which the building consumes maximum energy was found. The averages of the energy consumption for the peak month were determined. The DOE EnergyPlus software was used to simulate the energy requirements for the building and also obtain peak energy requirements for the peak month. Alternative energy sources such as ground source heat pump, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and day-lighting modifications were applied to redesign the energy consumption for the building towards meeting net-zero energy requirements. The present energy use by the building, DOE Energy software simulations for the building as well as the net-zero model for the building were studied. The extents of the contributions of the individual energy harvesting measures were studied. For meeting Net Zero Energy requirement, it was found that the total energy load for the building can be distributed between alternative energy methods as 5.4% to daylighting modifications, 58% to geothermal and 36.6% to solar photovoltaic panels for electricity supply and thermal energy. Thus the directions to proceed towards achieving complete net-zero energy status were identified.

abstract: The intent of this study was to identify the most viable among a proposive sample of emerging sustainable construction technologies with respect to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Geographic Area. With space heating and space cooling accounting for such a significant portion of energy consumption in Twin Cities homes, a representative sample of homes was analyzed for annual heating and cooling loads. For each home a series of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and envelope equipment was modeled in order to provide data for various sustainable home construction technologies. The result was a specific amount of energy savings from baseline construction methods for each sustainable technology. The study found that integrated geothermal heat pump and radiant conditioning systems have a far greater impact on energy savings than the construction methods evaluated. Nevertheless, insulated concrete forms provided the greatest energy savings within the proposive set of construction methods. The greatest amount of space conditioning energy savings of all configurations tested was 73.48% using an integrated geothermal heat pump and radiant conditioning system, structural insulated panel wall construction, aerosol air infiltration prevention, and insulated concrete form basement construction. The results of the study were used to determine areas for further research and to provide awareness within the Twin Cities construction enterprise to determine the most viable technologies that contractors, municipalities, and citizens should prioritize moving forward. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2019

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