NET-ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS ~ AN INTRODUCTION Some of the main topics related to the design and operation of net-zero energy buildings that will be dealt with in this course are the following, 1. What isa net-zero energy building? A discussion of the various definitions that have been suggested to define such buildings will be presented, 2. The systems that are usually considered in designing aet-zero energy buildings will be considered. 3. Building integrated PV systems and combined PV and solar heating systems will be considered and their design will be discussed. 4, So-called geothermal heat pump systems will be intreduced and their design Ibe discussed. 5. Solar rooms attached to the building that are used for energy storage and space heating will be considered and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. 66. Net-zero energy communities will be discussed and hot water storage systems for use with such communities will be considered. 7. Lifetime costs and problems that can arise with net zero energy buildings will be discussed, 8. A discussion of natural ventilation of buildings and its potential use in net- zero energy buildings will be given. 9. A discussion of existing net-zero energy buildings in Canada and elsewhere will be given. Inthe discussion of the above topics attention will be given to thermal comfort considerations. ‘The course evaluation will be based on a series of assignments and one project, the assignments contributing 70% to the final grade and the project contributing, 70% to the final grade. Patrick H. Oosthuizen April 30, 2015