The U.S. Department of Energy has funded the National Institute of Building Sciences to assess various potential definitions of "zero-energy buildings" and propose draft definitions with input from a number of subject matter experts and stakeholder organizations.
A broadly accepted market definition of zero-energy buildings is foundational to efforts by governments, utilities, or private entities to recognize or incentivize zero energy buildings. DOE is now seeking comments and information related to the proposed zero energy definitions, nomenclature, and implementation guidelines through a public comment period advertised in the Federal Register.
The public comment period is now open and will be available for 45 days, and will end on February 20, 2015. You can submit your comments here.
DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing any relevant comments and information. DOE considers public participation to be an important part of the process for developing a commonly-accepted definition of Zero Energy Buildings.
The Department will consider all input received and plans to publish the final report in 2015.
Related Stories
| Jun 1, 2011
Low-energy fans help combat disease in Rwandan clinic
Isis fans from Big Ass Fan Co. help kill airborne pathogens in Rwanda’s Butaro Health Clinic by passing air over UV lights.
| May 25, 2011
Smithsonian building $45 million green lab
Thanks to a $45 million federal appropriation to the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md., has broken ground on what is expected to be one of the most energy-efficient laboratories in the country. The 69,000-sf lab is targeting LEED Gold and is expected to use 37% less energy and emit 37% less carbon dioxide than a similar building.
| May 18, 2011
Former Bronx railyard redeveloped as shared education campus
Four schools find strength in numbers at the new 2,310-student Mott Haven Campus in New York City. The schools—three high schools and a K-4 elementary school—coexist on the 6.5-acre South Bronx campus, which was once a railyard.
| May 17, 2011
Sustainability tops the syllabus at net-zero energy school in Texas
Texas-based firm Corgan designed the 152,200-sf Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, with the goal of creating the largest net-zero educational facility in the nation, and the first in the state. The facility is expected to use 50% less energy than a standard school.
| May 17, 2011
Gilbane partners with Steel Orca on ultra-green data center
Gilbane, along with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, has been selected to partner with Steel Orca to design and build a 300,000-sf data center in Bucks County, Pa., that will be powered entirely through renewable energy sources--gas, solar, fuel cells, wind and geo-thermal. Completion is scheduled for 2013.
| May 16, 2011
Seattle unveils program to boost building efficiency
Seattle launched a new program that will help commercial property owners and managers assess and improve building energy efficiency. Under the program, all commercial and multifamily buildings larger than 10,000 sq. ft. will be measured for their energy performance using the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
