The goal of the Healthy Zero Energy Buildings (HZEB) research program is to develop the information needed for scientifically-sound commercial building ventilation standards. These standards should balance energy efficiency objectives with the need to maintain acceptable indoor air quality. This research will provide high quality information on ventilation and indoor environmental quality, to help the California Energy Commission (CEC) develop ventilation standards that provide for occupant needs while avoiding over-ventilation.
"Zero net energy" buildings have a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year. The California Public Utility Commission and the Energy Commission have adopted a goal that all new commercial buildings will be constructed to zero net energy levels by 2030. This requires that the amount of energy provided by on-site renewable energy sources equals the amount of energy used by the building. Zero energy buildings export electricity to the grid when there is a surplus, and draw electricity when not enough electricity is being produced on-site
The HZEB program is intended to involve and be reactive to stakeholders including the California Energy Commission, California Department of Health Services, California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Division of Occupation Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the private sector HVAC and building industries.
This research is funded by the California Energy Commission as part of the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The work will be conducted at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory by the Indoor Environment Group (formerly known as the Commercial Building Ventilation & Indoor Environmental Quality Group) in the Energy Technologies Area.
Sponsor:
We thank the funding agency that is making this project possible:
California Energy Commission (CEC)
Marla Mueller, Project Manager