Design, Optimization, and Modelling Issues of Net-Zero Energy Solar Buildings

The design of net-zero energy solar buildings (NZESBs) presents a challenge because there is no established design strategy to systematically reach this goal and many of the available building energy tools have limited applicability for such advanced buildings. This paper reviews current design practice and tools for designing NZESBs through a literature review and a survey. It also discusses modelling issues and presents the procedure used in several redesign and optimization case studies of existing NZESBs that Subtask B (STB) of the IEA SHC Task 40/ECBCS Annex 52 project “Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings” is performing. The case studies will identify gaps in existing tools and help develop strategies for the use of design tools in establishing near optimal NZESB designs.