A recent study out of the University of Waterloo analyzed data-driven improvements in Canada’s first zero-carbon, net-positive energy building to show how they play a vital role in generating more energy than the building consumes. According to the study, office buildings typically contribute nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions from construction to end-of-life.
In 2019, the building failed to deliver on its promise to make enough solar power for its operations and some for the community. However, through continuous monitoring and implementing improvements, operations staff were able to reduce the building’s energy consumption by approximately 15 percent without compromising the comfort of people working in the space.
To address the performance gaps, operations staff upgraded selected equipment like pumps to distribute heat efficiently throughout the building. They also trialed new measures, such as adjusting the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning schedules for improvements. Adopting a mindset of continuous improvement paid off as the energy used to perform those tasks decreased. The building now produces five percent more clean energy than its consumption, adding it to the Ontario grid.
The researchers hope that these findings will inspire other building owners to go beyond net-zero energy and aim to reach net-positive energy to offset the embedded carbon from construction and achieve zero-carbon performance.
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170,735-sq.-ft. net zero emissions office building prototype in St. Louis, Mo. via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. 2010Featured Image Credit
170,735-sq.-ft. net zero emissions office building prototype in St. Louis, Mo. via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. 2010
