Net Zero Energy Buildings Initiatives - A Review

Abstract

Buildings are one of the major energy consumers globally. Climate change and global warming are symptoms of increasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions due to growing energy consumption. The majority of electricity is produced from fossil fuels, such as coal, which are sources of GHG emissions. Here, renewable energy and efficient measures of energy consumption reduction can provide the opportunity to save our Earth by reducing GHG emission levels. The integrated solution for energy demand and environmental impact for buildings is the concept of net zero energy buildings (NZEBs). This paper reviews the NZEBs initiative around the world from different perspectives, such as passive design of buildings and active approaches that include energy-efficient measures and electricity production by renewable energy, particularly for buildings. Furthermore, this paper highlights optimization and modeling using different tools and software used for implementing NZEBs. This paper suggests possible ways of implementing NZEBs and its benefits in residential, commercial, and educational buildings for various climate zones, along with recent case study results.