How can you design or retrofit your building to be net zero energy? What are the steps and what does it cost to get to net zero compared to standard construction? When you design commercial buildings that are super insulated, have very tight envelopes and use energy recovery ventilation, then you can add solar PV to generate power on site and reach for net zero.

1. Net Zero Construction with
Sean Moran of Skender
Getting to Net Zero with Solar Energy
Tim Montague, M.S. | Sean Moran, LEED AP
www.CECCo.comSept 25, 2018
Solar Works for Illinois!
Free monthly solar energy webinar brought to you by:

2. Getting to Net Zero Energy Buildings with Solar
Presented by
Sean Moran
LEED AP BD+C
PHIUS Builder Certified
Senior Project Manager
Skender
773-677-1783
smoran@Skender.com

3. • BA in Business Management; Loras College: 2005
• Founded and owned Newgrange Design-Build:
2008 – 2016.
• LEED AP: Building Design and Construction: 2010
• San Francisco Institute of Architecture (SFIA) Long
distance learning Program:
MBA in Sustainability – 2012
• PHIUS (Passive House Institute United States)
Certified Builder – 2015
• Skender Construction – 2017.
Street Cred..

4. 1. What is Net Zero?
2. Why are Net Zero Energy Buildings Important?
3. The path to net zero?
1. Building Envelope
2. HVAC
3. Water Heating
4. Electric Loads
5. Renewables
Learning Objectives

5. What is a Net Zero Energy Building?
• On an annual basis, is a building producing enough energy from on-site renewables to off-set the amount of
energy it uses from the energy grid.
• According to the DOE, A Common Definition for Zero Energy Buildings, which states that a Zero Energy
Building is “an energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy
is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy.”

8. Energy Consumption by Sector CO2 emissions by Sector
Source: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/
Why are Net Zero Energy Buildings Important?

9. Source: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=us_energy_home

11. Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
• The use of fossil fuel energy to support our every day life, has a direct has a direct impact on the amount of carbon
dioxide (CO2) emitted into our environment, which is having a direct effect on global climate change.
• Buildings are the largest contributor of CO2 emissions into the environment.
• We have a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment and in our own lives.

14. U.S. Billion DollarWeather Related Events World Billion Dollar Disasters

15. Set a goal of Net Zero Energy on your building project.
Hire a GreatTeam. Collaborate, Iterate, Communicate.
Building Performance Modeling, Quality Control Checks, Measure Performance.
Advocate for and support programs/policy that create a sustainable future.
Paving the way to Net Zero Energy Buildings

16. Reduce Energy Consumption First!
1. Building Envelope
§ Walls, Roof, Floor Assembly
§ Air leakage control
§ Thermal Bridges
§ Fenestration / Glazing
2. Mechanical Systems
§ Heating, Cooling,Ventilation, Energy Recovery
§ Water Heating
§ Electric loads
3. Passive Elements
§ Window shading
§ Roof orientation
§ Thermal Mass
4. Renewable Energy
§ Roof top
§ Ground mount
How to get to Net Zero Energy Buildings

17. Integrated Design Process

18. BUILDING ENVELOPE (Walls, Roof , Slab)
1. Focus on the building enclosure.
- Collaborate on details with design and construction team.
- Good notes on drawings and specifications.
2. Air-Tight Construction
• AllWalls, Ceilings, Penetrations fully sealed.
• All materials, details, and techniques understood.
• Pre-testing and troubleshooting.
• Blower-DoorTest

19. BUILDING ENVELOPE (Wall, Roof, Slab)
3. Minimize or EliminateThermal Bridge’s:
A building element that bridges temperature from outside
to inside by penetrating the building envelope.

20. 1. Properly Sized Mechanical Systems.
2. Continuous and balancedVentilation with Energy Recovery
3. Installation Quality / Commissioning
4. Smart Controls
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (HVAC)

21. WATER HEATING

22. • Lighting
• LED
• Smart Controls (Daylight sensor, Occupancy Sensors)
• Appliances
• Energy Star Rated
• Plug Loads
• Ability to shut-down.
• Elevators, Conveyors.
• Energy saving strategies
ELECTRIC LOADS

23. PASSIVE ELEMENTS
Taking advantage of free heating and cooling
• Site orientation and building layout
• Passive heating and cooling through
natural ventilation and solar heat gain.
• Shading of windows in summer
• Thermal Mass

24. RENEWABLE ENERGY
1.Reduce Energy Consumption First
2. Prepare for future Renewable Energy
• “Solar Ready” Buildings
3. Produce Renewable Energy
• Onsite (Roof top or ground mounted)

25. https://energy.gov/science-
innovation/clean-energy

26. Improved Indoor
Air Quality
Improved
Thermal
Comfort
Improved
Acoustic
Comfort
Improved
visual comfort
and
daylighting
Improved
learning
environment
Additional benefits of high performing buildings

27. Design Build Test

28. PEAK CARBON EMISSION BY 2020
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/datablog/2017/jan/19/carbon-countdown-clock-how-much-of-the-
worlds-carbon-budget-have-we-spent

29. Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood
Daniel Burnham (City Planner / Architect – Chicago)

30. Questions , Comments, Next Steps..?

31. Tim Montague, M.S. Sean Moran, LEED AP
tmontague@cecco.com smoran@skender.com
Thank You!
www.CECCo.comSept 25, 2018
Net Zero Construction with
Sean Moran of Skender
Five Ways Solar Pays Back
Tim Montague, M.S.