Definition of a "zero net energy" community / Nancy Carlisle, Otto Van Geet, Shanti Pless.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Carlisle, Nancy

Contributor:

Geet, Otto van

Pless, Shanti D.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Community development--Energy conservation.

Community development.

Renewable energy sources--Planning.

Renewable energy sources.

Sustainable development.

sustainable development.

Genre:

technical reports.

Technical reports

Technical reports.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iv, 14 pages) : color illustrations

Place of Publication:

Golden, Colo. : U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, [2009]

Summary:

Past work resulted in a common zero-energy building (ZEB) definition system of "zero energy" and a classification system for ZEBs based on the renewable energy sources used by a building. A definition for a zero-energy community is different and more complex than that of a ZEB because a community uses energy not only for buildings but also for industry, vehicles, and community-based infrastructure. This paper begins with a focus solely on buildings and expands the concept to define a zero-energy community (ZEC), applying the ZEB hierarchical renewable classification system to the concept of community. This approach emphasizes using all possible cost-effective energy-efficiency and demand-avoidance strategies first and then using renewable energy sources and technologies that are located in three places: first, on space within the built environment or unusable brownfield sites within the community; second, on either green space within the community or located outside the community boundary but within the region and brought into the community; and third, through the purchase of new Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed December 28, 2010).

Includes bibliographical references (page 14).

"November 2009."

OCLC:

494154923