1. March 30, 2017 WISE Energy Day 2017 University of Waterloo
Zero Net Energy Building and Intelligent Buildings: Implications and Prospects
March 30, 2017
WISE Energy Day University of Waterloo

2. CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association)
Vision
CABA advances the connected home and intelligent buildings sectors.
Mission
CABA enables organizations and individuals to make informed decisions about the integration of technology, ecosystems and connected lifestyles in homes and buildings.
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3. CABA Research Program
The CABA Research Program offers a range of opt-in technical and advisory research services designed to provide industry stakeholders with collaborative market research and R&D opportunities.
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4. Bright green buildings

5. Bright green buildings

6. About “Zero Net Energy Building Controls”
CABA commissioned New Buildings Institute (NBI) to conduct research with a collaborative framework that engaged funders from a cross-section of building technology solution providers.
Research Objective: Characterize controls technology and strategies in Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Buildings.
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7. CABA Members are Collaborating & Funding this Research:
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8. Background – Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings
A Zero Net Energy (ZNE) building generates as much energy as it consumes annually. Also known as Net Zero Energy.
Zero = ‘nothing’
Net = On-site Energy Production (renewable) minus Energy Use, over 1 year
Energy = All energy (electric, gas, steam, liquid fuel etc.) consumed on site
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9. Sample Group
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10. Sample Location NBI’s North America database
Mainly 10,000 – 100,000+ sq ft
Mainly Offices & Higher Ed
(Also: Courthouse, Lab, Library...)
Climate: CA has most ZNE buildings
(Also: Canada, PNW, NE, CO)
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11. Research Overview
Investigate Building Energy Monitoring & Controls Systems in Low-Energy and ZNE Buildings
Areas of inquiry and participants:
The Selection and the System. What did they choose and why.
Design Firms
The Energy Impact. Savings assumptions in modeling and attribution in use.
Design Firms and Operators
The Use and User Experience. How is it being used, what is effective and lacking.
Operators and Occupants
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12. Buildings & People: Participants
Project
Location
Size Range
Building Type
Retrofit
Operator Survey Completed
435 Indio Way CA
25k - 50k sf
Office X
Bullitt Foundation Cascadia Center for Sustainable Design and Construction WA
50k - 100k sf
Cornell NYC Tech First Academic Building NY
over 100k sf
Education
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
DPR Construction's San Francisco Office
10k - 25k sf
Exploratorium
Other
Hanover Page Mill Building
IDeAs Z2 Office Building
5k - 10k sf
Lane Community College, Downtown Academic Center OR
Leslie Shao-Ming Field Station at Jasper Ridge
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters MA
Morphosis Architecture Studio
NREL Research Support Facility CO
Rice Fergus Miller Office and Studio
Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center
Sacred Heart Schools Stevens Family Library
San Luis National Wildlife Refuge HQ and Visitor Center
UC San Diego J Craig Venter Institute
UniverCity Childcare Centre BC
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Assembly
Watsonville Water Resources Center
Wayne Aspinall Courthouse and Federal Building
Courthouse
West Berkeley Public Library
Library
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13. Characterize Controls Technology & Strategies in ZNE Buildings
Types of Controls
Goal:
Characterize Controls Technology & Strategies in ZNE Buildings
All participants ranked building control strategies “very important” or “critical” to ZNE success
> 90% of buildings use control systems integrated across some or all end-uses
Daylighting is critical to ZNE
Get Glare Control & Shading right!
Light switches are still most common
Most buildings use combination of manual & automatic controls
¾ of buildings rely on occupant for some part of controls success
The highest-performing buildings have engaged operators and occupants standing on the shoulders of intelligent and integrated controls systems
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14. Controls Design Selection Process
Designing a successful ZNE Building is a balancing act:
Rigid execution of design intent
Thorough documentation & specs
Detailed sequence of operations
Flexibility in implementation
Flexibility in operation
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15. Controls Design Selection Process
Prior Experience is the #1 selection criteria
Indicator of the importance of getting key players involved early in the design process
Demonstrates the important role controls play in achieving a ZNE goal
Criteria for Selecting a Controls Vendor/Subcontractor
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16. Controls Design Selection Process
Despite the focus on performance and the qualification of the design and construction teams associated with these projects…
The #1 reason for excessive follow-up:
Incorrect installation of controls systems in the field
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17. Findings Collecting energy data is rare!
Systems were not interoperable
Contractor resistance and skills are an issue
ZNE goes well beyond the traditional commissioning (Cx) process
Occupants waste energy
Conflicts with complex sequences and system architecture and controls
Lack of accuracy in electrical sub-meters and difficulty in setting them up
Lack of correlation between actual and predicted performance
Staging of various outcomes, including the solar, is hard
Lack of granularity
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18. October 2015 cover of Building Operating Management Magazine
Emerging Trends
Integrated and lower cost control systems
Integration capabilities and networks with automated control system management are improving
Cost of interconnectivity is decreasing
Adaptive controls: occupant-based and weather responsive
Monitoring and feedback
Building dashboards and simple monitoring systems
Fault detection with early warning for energy use or equipment failures
Energy Model-based Control
Utility Demand Response
Other:
Robotics
DC building systems
Energy storage
Protocol standardization
October 2015 cover of Building Operating Management Magazine
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19. Conclusions
ZNE is driven by good design, high performance systems and shading
Controls are at the nexus of energy performance
New roles & old relationships
Occupants are a new operator
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20. Conclusions: Game Changers
Industry Implications:
Large new market for new products
Complexity and communications issues hinder adoption and outcomes
ZNE buildings will remain grid connected and districts and aggregation of bldgs. will increase
Getting to zero is both a market and a policy trend
Game Changers:
Integration and low cost sensors – I o T
Feedback / dashboard systems to occupants and operators –
Utility programs and pricing – new two-way transactions and load shifts driven by renewables and ZNE
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21. Recommendations 1. Prioritize Passive Strategies
then layer in controls to optimize the whole building outcomes
2. Integrate the Controls Contractor
controls contractor needs to be a primary team member from design through occupancy
3. Increase Operator Training and Support
bring controls training and improved hand-off documentation to operators and ongoing access to the design team and controls contractor
4. Provide Occupants Control but Backup with Default Settings
occupants want some engagement and control access but a ‘hybrid’ system that returns controls to default settings and “Off” is necessary
5. Build Industry Awareness and Knowledge of Emerging Trends
a) integrated, wireless and adaptive controls
b) feedback and dashboards
c) DC systems and renewable integration
d) utility load management, price and program issues
e) ZNE policy drivers
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22. Download the free report
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23. CONTACT CABA
Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) 1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 210 Ottawa, ON K1J 7S Toll free: CABA (2222) Fax: Connect to what’s next™
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