Applications for large residential communities: What is net-zero energy?

In the building industry, the term zero energy home (ZEH) or building can be interpreted in a variety of ways. And it is not simply a semantic argument; targeting one definition versus another can have significant impacts on building practices, utility demand profiles, and construction programs and policies. Therefore, it is important to review the different definitions of “zero” and the relevant benefits and short-comings of each. This article will review three primary “ZEH” definitions—zero peak, zero net-electricity, and zero net-energy—and how community-scale implementations of these strategies can improve cost effectiveness while enhancing zero energy and zero peak benefits. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, Ltd.