U.S.

Department of Energy –
A Net Zero Energy Home for All Americans

APP Net Zero Energy Home Workshop September 23, 2009

Edward Pollock

What is Building
America?

Building America is a public/private

partnership focused on systems-based R&D,
technology implementation, and cost-shared
technical support sponsored* by the US
Department of Energy with the goal of
developing marketable designs for homes
that produce as much energy as they use.
use

* All building construction and material costs

are provided as cost share by industry partners

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 Zero Energy Home Goals
Key Near Term Performance Indicators
Reduction in HVAC Capacity Critical Peak Demand
100% 100%

50 50

0 0
2010 2015 2020 2010 2015 2020

CO2 Emissions Reduction Incremental  Home Operating Cost

100% +15%

50 0

0 -15%
2010 2015 2020 2010 2015 2020

Neutral Cost Goal:  Increased Costs are Directly 
Offset by Utility Bill Savings 
2,500
“Least Cost” Curve, 
cash flow 4 Using Current Best 
Available Systems
2,000
, mortgage
ergy Related Costs, $
Costs ($/year)

utility bills

1,500 Minimum  Neutral Cost Line

Cost Point
1 3 ZEH Systems Research
2 Cost/Performance Target
Annual

1,000
All Ene
Total A

500
Incremental, Energy 
Related Mortgage
& Replacement Costs
0
0% 50% 100%
Source Energy Savings
Energy Savings (%)
Reference
Christensen, C.; Anderson, R.; Horowitz, S.; Courtney, A.; Spencer, J. (2006). BEopt(TM) Software for Building Energy 
Building Optimization: Features and Capabilities. 21 pp.; NREL Report No. TP‐550‐39929.

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Building America Research Goals
Goal of Zero Energy Home by 2020.

Target (Energy Savings) by Climate Zones

Increase funding to enable simultaneous research in all five climate zones.

Building Technologies Mission

Develop technologies, tools, and standards for making residential
and commercial buildings and appliances more energy-efficient,
productive, and affordable.

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 Net-Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) use whole-house design to achieve cost
neutral net-zero energy consumption.
Renewable Energy
Technical Pathways to ZEH • Solar PV
Envelope • Small Wind
• R-30+ with an incremental cost of $2/ft2- •Community Scale
floor area relative to an R-19 2x6 wall. Renewable
•R-50
R 50 ceilings
•R-10 basements. Solar Heating and
• Air and Vapor Barriers Cooling
Windows •Integrated Soar Thermal &
•R-10 and cost of $20/ft2 (cold climate) PV Systems
•Low-cost solar water
heaters for ZEH in cold
climates, with levelized
Domestic Hot Water cost of energy of 6¢/kWh.
• 30% reduction in annual energy use with
$2,000 incremental system cost relative to a Space Conditioning and
gas tankless system with EF=0.8 Refrigeration
•Engineered Hot Water Distribution •30% Reduction in system
energy use over SEER 18
•Partial load efficiency
Lighting •Variable capacity
•Solid State Lighting luminaire •Low mass tight ducts in
efficacy of 126 lm/W conditioned space

Lab homes to assess ZEH-ready envelopes ZEH Prototype Neutral Cost ZEH
advanced technologies 50% whole house savings Houses Communities

Equipment and Components R&D is Required to 
Meet Needs of Zero Energy Homes
Community‐ Integrated Desiccant/
Scale Community Indirect Evap Exchanger
Indirect Evap Exchanger
CHP Scale (DEvap)
Seasonal
Switchable  Efficient  Storage
Clothes 
High

Wall  High R 
Coatings Dryer
Windows
Solar Assisted
Heat Pumps
EC  Attic Integrated Residential DC
(heating, hot 
ZEH Risk

Windows Night Sky Power System

water)
Radiative Cooling

Low Cost Small, High Efficiency 
Cool Low Loss Ductless Cold Climate Condensing Combo Hot 
Attics Hot Water Mini splits
Mini‐splits SDHW W t /S
Water/Space Heating 
H ti
Distribution
Next Gen System
Cold Climate Storage/ MELS 
Residential
Low

Air Source Individual Control/Residential

Battery Ice Storage
Heat Pump House Energy Management
Storage System
Low Cost
High Ground Source AC with Building
SEER HP Dehumidification Integrated Small Volume
AC/HP Hot Water Mode Thermal ZEH Air Handler
Heat Recovery Storage
Low ZEH Benefit High
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 Residential Integration System Research Process

Stage 1: System Performance Go/

Reject No-Go /
Go
Evaluations No-Go Reject

Stage 2: Prototype House Development of Advanced

Evaluations Components
(BT Emerging Technologies,
Manufacturers, Other EERE
Reject No-Go / Offices)
Go

Stage 3: Initial Community-Scale ZEH Technology Pathways

Evaluations (Joule) Analysis

Reject No-Go /
Go

Final Evaluations
In Occupied Homes Go/
No-Go

Reject
Documentation
and Resource
Development Products

Handoff for Deployment by: DOE Communications, Energy Star, PATH, NASULGC, NASEO, SEP, ASSERTI,
EEBA, Universities, Community Colleges, NAHB Bldg Sys Council, & other organizations

Building America Research Results

• 6 teams

• Over 40,000 homes built to date (Best Practices series

and case studies)

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Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
• Over 50,000 homes’ energy performance 
improved since 2003 – 20% – 40% or more

•Programs in 25+ states

•Utilities and state energy offices sponsoring

• Over 20 states planning to ARRA funds to 
support activities, even more cities

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 How can we increase the volume of retrofits?

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ELIMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL HPwES Program

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 15

What is the Builders Challenge?

The Builders Challenge recognizes energy

leadership and enables excellence in homebuilding:
• The EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale) provides an
“MPG” display of superior energy performance
• Quality Criteria ensures optimal occupant health, safety,
and comfort with increase building durability
• Technical resources increase skills for high-performance,
high-quality homes
• Marketing tools and resources help gain recognition for
excellence

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 Goal of Builders Challenge

Make a net-zero
energy home
possible for any
American by 2030

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EnergySmart Home Scale

• Builders Challenge
qualified homes may use
a special E-Scale with
the Building
America/Builders
Challenge logo and
“meets the Builders
Challenge” banner.

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What Does this All Mean?
1. Users generally know what they want in a Rating:
– Asset-based rating
– National system, with ratings performed by trained 3rd
parties
– Rating produces a uniform metric allowing
comparisons
– Rating is “accurate”
– Includes building upgrade recommendations

p
2. Methods to improve Rating
g accuracy
y without adding
g to the
cost of a rating are needed.

3. A clear distinction must be made between an energy

Rating, a home label, a home certification, and rating
tools. Users sometimes confuse these.

What Does this All Mean?

4. Broad industry data comparing Ratings to actual use

g confidence in Rating’s
is critical to building g ability
y to
accurately predict savings. This confidence will spark
innovation in financial instruments, program to reduce
load/consumption, and marketing of energy
efficiency.

5. Interoperability of rating software could bring

efficiencies to the rating process.

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Users Agree with the Concept of Integrated
Rating Tools

Online
• Data from one Screening
l l feeds
level f d into
i t
the next In-Home
Survey
• Software tools
have consistent,
Diagnostic Home
compatible data Survey
files
• Level of detail
varies, but a RESNET HERS Rating
Rating’s
“indication” is
consistent Comprehensive Energy Audit

EnergySmart Home Scale

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Key Elements
1. Clear way to measure, verify, and convey home energy
performance
2. Transparent process for builders of all sizes, in all regions, to
join the Challenge and be active
3. Abundant technical and marketing resources enabling
builders to use “best practices” from Building America R&D
4. Strong partnerships with associations, NGOs, states, brokers,
andd researchers
h
5. Increased consumer outreach to drive demand

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Elements of Success

• Target for Builders

Challenge starts
at 70 and moves
progressively toward
zero by
2030
• Based on
cost-neutral
constr ction
construction

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Elements of Success
Strong partnerships
• Nearly 250 partners, including an extensive network
of existing high performance home programs, manufacturers,
verifiers raters,
verifiers, raters and media partners

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Making a Difference

• More than 1 1,800

800 homes qualified since summer 2008
• Energy Performance Ratings (EPR), range from 70
to -3, averaging 63
• 417 builders
• 400 partners participating (raters, manufacturers,
program and resources partners)
• Saving 1.6 million dollars every year – a savings of
nearly 1.6 million MMBTUs over the next 30 years

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Contact Information

Building America Web Site:

www.buildingamerica.gov
Builders Challenge Website:
www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge

Questions?
Edward Pollock

202-586-577

Edward.Pollock@hq.doe.gov

Builders Challenge

301-889-0017

builderschallenge@newportpartnersllc.com 27

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