Smart Zero Energy Buildings And Communities For Smart Grids

Smart zero-energy buildings and communities have a major role to play in the evolution of the electric grid towards alignment with carbon neutrality policies. The goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment can be pursued through a holistic approach, including the drastic reduction of buildings’ energy consumption. The state-of-the-art in this field relates, on the one hand, to design methodologies and innovative technologies which aim to minimize the energy demand at the building level. On the other hand, the development of information and communication technologies, along with the integration of renewable energy and storage, provide the basis for zero and positive energy buildings and communities that can produce, store, manage and exchange energy at a local level. This book provides a structured and detailed insight of the state-of-the-art in this context based on the analysis of real case studies and applications.

This book focuses on near-zero energy buildings (NZEBs), smart communities and microgrids. In this context, demand response (DR) is associated with significant environmental and economic benefits when looking at how electricity grids, communities and buildings can operate optimally. In DR, the consumer becomes a prosumer with an important active role in the exchange of energy on an hourly basis. DR is gradually gaining ground with respect to the reduction of peak loads, grid balancing and dealing with the volatility of renewable energy sources (RES). This transition calls for high environmental awareness and new tools or services that will improve the dynamic as well as secure multidirectional exchange of energy and data. Overall, DR is identified as an important field for technological and market innovations aligned with climate change mitigation policies and the transition to sustainable smart grids in the foreseeable future. Smart Buildings, Smart Communities and Demand Response provides an insight into various intrinsic aspects of DR potential, at the building and the community level.

There is widespread interest in the way that smart energy control systems, such as assessment and monitoring techniques for low carbon, nearly-zero energy and net positive buildings can contribute to a Sustainable future, for current and future generations. There is a turning point on the horizon for the supply of energy from finite resources such as natural gas and oil become less reliable in economic terms and extraction become more challenging, and more unacceptable socially, such as adverse public reaction to ‘fracking’. Thus, in 2016 these challenges are having a major influence on the design, optimisation, performance measurements, operation and preservation of: buildings, neighbourhoods, cities, regions, countries and continents. The source and nature of energy, the security of supply and the equity of distribution, the environmental impact of its supply and utilization, are all crucial matters to be addressed by suppliers, consumers, governments, industry, academia, and financial institutions. This book entitled ‘Smart Energy Control Systems for Sustainable Buildings’ contains eleven chapters written by international experts based on enhanced conference papers presented at the Sustainability and Energy in Buildings International conference series. This book will be of interest to University staff and students; and also industry practioners.

Executive Summary: A Guide for Developing Zero Energy Communities (also called the ZEC guide) helps developers, governments, utility companies, and communities create cities, campuses, and neighborhoods that, by design, conserve energy and incorporate electric vehicle charging using renewable energy to power those buildings and vehicles. ZECs provide a net-balance of the supply and demand for local energy based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratories' (NREL) ZEC definition. The ZEC guide addresses both Greenfield and Retrofit ZECs of various project sizes and complexities. The environmental impacts, regulatory issues, resistance, economics are described. The ZEC guide includes an extensive primer regarding renewable energy, control systems, energy storage, and hybridization of technologies. The guide provides a step-by-step process for evaluation and implementation and an explanation of how to create a ZEC program and align it with other sustainability and green building standards. Extensive references are provided for a multitude of relevant resources. The 10-page illustrated executive summary describes the 202-page book, which includes forty-two photos and illustrations.

This book highlights the various technologies that are currently available or are now being developed for the green and smart buildings of the future. It examines why green building performance is important, and how it can be measured and rated using appropriate benchmarking systems. Lastly, the book provides an overview of the state-of-the-art in green building technologies and the trend towards zero energy or net positive energy buildings in the future.

This book provides an overview of how efficient building energy management can be done, considering the increasing importance of renewable energy integration. It also includes the grid-interactive building, their control, energy management, and optimization techniques to promote better understanding among researchers and business professionals in the utility sector and across industries. This book is written and edited by leading specialists active in concurrent developments in smart building management, renewable energy research, and application-driven R&D. The experiences and research work shared help the readers in enhancing their knowledge in the field of renewable energy, power engineering, building energy management, demand, and supply management and learn the technical analysis of the same in an insightful manner. Additionally, established and emerging applications related to applied areas like smart cities, the Internet of things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, etc., are developed and utilized to demonstrate recent innovations in smart building energy management.

SMART GRID AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES Discover foundational topics in smart grid technology as well as an exploration of the current and future state of the industry As the relationship between fossil fuel use and climate change becomes ever clearer, the search is on for reliable, renewable and less harmful sources of energy. Sometimes called the “electronet” or the “energy Internet,” smart grids promise to integrate renewable energy, information, and communication technologies with the existing electrical grid and deliver electricity more efficiently and reliably. Smart Grid and Enabling Technologies delivers a complete vision of smart grid technology and applications, including foundational and fundamental technologies, the technology that enables smart grids, the current state of the industry, and future trends in smart energy. The book offers readers thorough discussions of modern smart grid technology, including advanced metering infrastructure, net zero energy buildings, and communication, data management, and networks in smart grids. The accomplished authors also discuss critical challenges and barriers facing the smart grid industry as well as trends likely to be of importance in its future development. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to smart grid architecture, including traditional grids, the fundamentals of electric power, definitions and classifications of smart grids, and the components of smart grid technology An exploration of the opportunities and challenges posed by renewable energy integration Practical discussions of power electronics in the smart grid, including power electronics converters for distributed generation, flexible alternating current transmission systems, and high voltage direct current transmission systems An analysis of distributed generation Perfect for scientists, researchers, engineers, graduate students, and senior undergraduate students studying and working with electrical power systems and communication systems. Smart Grid and Enabling Technologies will also earn a place in the libraries of economists, government planners and regulators, policy makers, and energy stakeholders working in the smart grid field.

A Planning Guide for Developing Zero Energy Communities (also called The ZEC Guide) helps developers, corporations, institutions, governments, utility companies, and communities create cities, campuses, and neighborhoods that, by design, conserve energy and incorporate electric vehicle–charging using renewable energy to power those buildings and vehicles. ZECs provide a net balance of the supply and demand for local energy based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratories’ (NREL) ZEC definition. The ZEC Guide addresses both Greenfield and Retrofit ZECs of various project sizes and complexities. The environmental impacts, regulatory issues, resistance, and economics are described. The ZEC Guide includes an extensive primer regarding renewable energy, control systems, energy storage, and hybridization of technologies. The guide provides a step-by-step process for evaluation and implementation and an explanation of how to create a ZEC program and align it with other sustainability and green building standards. Extensive references are provided for a multitude of relevant resources. The 202-page book includes forty-two photos and illustrations.