A Study of Net Zero Energy Buildings in the U.S.: Evaluating Key Elements

There are over 50 net zero energy (NZE) verified buildings in the U.S. in addition to approximately 280 NZE emerging buildings that have designed for and targeted net zero status, yet have not demonstrated achievement of that goal. Simply, a NZE building consumes only as much energy as can be produced from onsite renewable sources in the course of a year. With innovations in design, construction techniques, and advancement in technology, it is not surprising to see a dramatic increase in the number of NZE buildings. An additional force is the increasing number of U.S. States and local jurisdictions mandating net zero buildings. According to the New Building Institute (NBI), the number of verified and emerging NZE buildings in the U.S. has tripled since 2012. This paper aims to, first, present a summary of the definitions of NZE buildings and, second, to provide a qualitative and descriptive analysis for the factors that are essential in the development of NZE buildings. These include location, size, climate zone, energy use intensity, type of ownership, and local politics, to name a few. They are analyzed to evaluate and examine the key elements in the development of NZE buildings. The results of this study illustrate that a framework for the definition and evaluation of NZE buildings has gained more attention in certain locations than in others.