Design Strategies for a Net Zero Energy Building in Severe Cold Climate: A Case Study for China

The currently developing concept of Net Zero Energy Building should be adaptive for different climate situations. Buildings in the severe cold areas of China have higher energy consumption and gas emission due to large heating energy consumption in wintertime. It is challenging to design and operate a net zero energy building in severe cold climate. This paper will discuss the feasibility of a net zero energy office building design targeting for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. An on-campus office building is explored as an experimental case study in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in China. The case study, which is called "Sino-Germany Zero-Energy Center", is one of the first examples of a nearly net zero energy building in the severe cold climate of China. Building simulation is performed to validate the interior lighting environment and annual energy consumption. Energy balance was calculated for the case study, with the aim of reaching an electricity target of net zero energy. Precise energy monitoring is implemented during operation. This case study shows that to achieve the goal of energy efficient and environment sustainability, appropriate energy efficient strategies adapted to severe cold climate should be considered to improve the integrated performance of the building,.