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We have created this website to showcase the NZEB design projects of IDeAs, we hope you are inspired to start saving the world, one building at a time.

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Why Energy Efficiency?

Why should you choose energy efficiency? Consider this:  Buildings account for nearly 40% of the primary energy usage and 70% of the electricity usage in the United States and account for 40% of the total carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions nationwide. When we use less energy, the less energy we need to generate at power plants, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the quality of our air. Energy efficient solutions can reduce the energy bill for many homes and businesses by 20 to 30 percent. For example, compact fluorescent bulbs use two-thirds less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Energy Efficiency via Supply-side Technologies

Energy demand cannot be eliminated completely.  Therefore, demand-side renewable energy technologies, such as passive solar, daylighting and high-efficiency HVAC equipment, must be incorporated to a NZEB.  However, supply-side renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics (PVs) must be used for a building to be classified as a NZEB.  Supply-side technologies, often called energy producers, collect natural energy and transform it into a useful form.

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Energy Efficiency via Plug Load Savings

Office equipment and other miscellaneous plug loads consume more than 20 percent of electricity in California’s offices. It is estimated commercial plug loads consume more than 3,000 GWh annually, costing business owners over $400 million each year. This is equivalent to 700,000 metric tons annually of carbon dioxide emissions or emissions of 140,000 cars during one year. The EPA’s Energy Star® Program has many ideas for business owners to ensure that their buildings consume 40 percent less energy that an average building.

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Load Graph

Feedback on building energy usage can alert a building manager or owner to potential equipment or efficiency issues that need to be addressed. Regular analysis of building energy systems can also ensure that a building is operating as efficiently as intended in the building design. Data also provides a powerful metric to contrast actual building performance with projected building performance in data modeling during the design phase.

The Most Effective Way to Energy Efficiency

Here are some ideas to help businesses save energy to alleviate building costs. See Energy Star® Program for more details.

  • Install programmable thermostats for better control of heating and air conditioning and save roughly one-fifth on your heating / cooling costs.
  • Turn off lights in unoccupied spaces. Better yet, install motion sensors in conference rooms, closets, restrooms, and break rooms. Motion sensors can reduce lighting costs up to 40 percent in areas where lights are generally left burning all the time.
  • Turn off or program office equipment to power down when not in use. Turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends can save up to $80 a year. Setting PCs, monitors and copiers to sleep mode when not in use can help cut energy costs by up to 50 percent.

 

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