Dyer 1

Megan Dyer

Professor Padgett

English 102

2/27/17

Humans Reach for Net-Zero to Save the Earth

An Annotated Bibliography

Inquiry: How practical is it to achieve net-zero?

Proposed Thesis: Despite controversies over global warming and reaching net-zero, advances are

already being made throughout the construction and engineering industries to attain net-zero

through various strategies, but there are still some setbacks. Commented [AO1]: For your actual thesis, maybe try to
include a brief idea of what these setbacks are

Intro

A current hot topic of debate is Global Warming. Although many people believe it is happening

and is creating harmful effects on the world, few are actually taking action to combat it, but

luckily advances to reach net-zero energy emissions are growing. Despite controversies over

global warming and reaching net-zero, advances are already being made throughout the

construction and engineering industries to attain net-zero through various strategies but there are

still some setbacks. Various advances are being made in homes and small building but high-rise,

multi-unit residential building face harder complications.

Cianfrone, Christian, et al. "Holistic Approach to Achieving Low-Energy, High-Rise Residential

Buildings." Journal of Building Physics, vol. 39, no. 6, May 2016, pp. 522-541.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/1744259115623262.
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The three authors of this piece work to explain the hardships of reaching net-zero in

construction, particularly in the case of high-rise, multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). For

every energy efficient requirement is a constraint caused by current building practices. The

article continues to outline the many common constraints faced and how they combine to cause

poor energy performance. Through modules and cost-benefit analysis, options to decrease energy

waste are discussed. In considering future steps, the article mentions that many advances made in

building codes over the past two decades have been slightly impractical and leave room for loose

interpretations. This allows for builders to take short cuts and avoid following the regulations. In

the future, more detailed regulations need to be made in order to achieve lower net energy in

MURBs. Commented [AO2]: Include in this summary an analysis

of the article itself and maybe how it would be useful for
your paper overall.
John H. Cushman Jr., InsideClimate News, Phil McKenna, Sabrina Shankman, Nicholas

Kusnetz, Zahra Hirji, and John H. Cushman Jr. "Is 'Net-Zero' Carbon Goal to Rescue the

Climate Plausible?" Inside Climate News. N.p., 20 Feb. 2015. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

This article refers to then, then current, UN climate negotiations. It brought up the

varying levels of climate change that scientists consider acceptable and the fact that to ensure

these levels are not surpassed, the world needs to act very quickly. The longest it says we can go

without reaching net zero is 2100, after that, the effects of global warming will be catastrophic.

This article references various agencies that have supporting evidence such as the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or the treaty talks in Lima, Peru and Geneva.

Ultimately most talks conclude that we need to reach net zero by 2050 and that this goal is not

too unreasonable. It references advisors for Shell and how even they agree the Paris treaty should

aim for net zero but that it may not actually be possible, and certainly not by 2050. Other studies
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are referenced throughout the rest of the article supporting that it can be achieved and is

necessary for the future of our world. Commented [AO3]: All studies included seem to be from
environmental agencies so make sure there is not too much
bias in this source.
LENTZ, MARK S. "Achieving Net Zero Requires Innovative Thinking." Heating/Piping/Air Commented [AO4]: Make sure again to include some
analysis as well, and maybe include some direct quotes from
Conditioning Engineering, vol. 83, no. 9, Sept. 2011, pp. 10-13. EBSCOhost, the article like he suggests.

login.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db

=a9h&AN=66893138&site=ehost-live.

The author of this article discusses the effects of HVAC heating and air systems on energy

effiency. HVAC systems account for eighty-five to ninety-five percent of the energy expended in

building and therefore is crucial. With new processes, Lentz believe most of that wasted energy

can either be eliminated or recycled. Studies involving West High School show a solution that

can cut energy usage by seventy percent. In order to achieve HVAC systems that are efficient, a

whole new design process is needed. HVAC engineers currently model and rate their system

while comparing the results to the worst possible outcome, meaning even poor performance can

receive a good score. In the future, models need to be tested against the best possible outcome so

that as energy efficient practices better themselves, engineers are always being challenged

against a new and better best case scenario. Technology including

evaporation/condensation/freezing/thawing, air-to-air heat-exchange, and thermal and electric

storage will all have to be considered in order to make advances.
Norton, Paul, et al. "Evaluation of Model Results and Measured Performance of Net-Zero
Commented [AO5]: This source seems to be very useful
towards supporting your proposed thesis, and it is good that
it includes all the potential technologies that could be
useful. Be sure to include why these methods are so useful
and how this source will be useful in your paper.

Energy Homes in Hawaii." ASHRAE Transactions, vol. 119, no. 2, May 2013, pp. 1-8.

EBSCOhost,login.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dir

ect=true&db=a9h&AN=96045853&site=ehost-live.
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Nineteen affordable net-zero energy homes were built in Hawaii in 2011. The project was

created to combat high energy prices in Hawaii. These homes were used building hourly energy

modeling software by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The homes are either one or

two stories and around fifteen hundred square feet. They are built in a hot area with low winds.

The exact equipment of the homes is discussed. Each house has been monitored since their

construction. Within the first year the homes performed within one percent of net-zero. Most

homes exceed net-zero and a few fall below. The feedback of this experiment is crucial in future

planning of energy efficient homes. Commented [AO6]: Give analysis as to why this is crucial
for the planning of energy efficient homes.

Shen, Pengyuan and Noam Lior. "Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts of Present

Renewable Energy Systems Designed for Achieving Net-Zero Energy

Buildings." Energy, vol. 114, Nov. 2016, pp. 1288-1305. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.078.

A topic often forgotten is how all the renewable energy practices that the world is

currently striving to implement will hold up in future climates. Studies were done on how current

solar and wind energy systems will do in 10 different possible climate zones. These zones are

based on Global Climate Models predictions of future climate zones that will be caused by

ongoing environmental impacts. Results show that the renewable energy sources will lose their

capability to achieve net-zero in half of the climate zones. In order to avoid this, Photovoltaic Commented [AO7]: Did these authors specifically do
these studies? If not maybe try to find the original source
from the bibliography or something.
systems need to be used. These systems account for hourly building energy loads and therefore

are better predictors for future climates. Systems built with this show results of stability in future

climate zones. Otherwise, renewable energy systems will just have to be continuously updated.

Thomas, Samantha. ""World's Greenest Office Building" Makes Net-Zero Look Easy." YES!

Magazine. N.p., 19 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

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<http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/world-s-greenest-office-building-makes-net-zero-

look-easy>.

An office building in Seattle Washington is described in this article. Even in the least

sunny state, this building is able to be 100% solar. This building is constructed in compliance

with the Living Building Challenge, the toughest set of standards regarding eco-friendly

buildings. Its walls are made entirely of glass in order to light even the center of the building so

that no artificial lighting is needed, tenants walk or ride bikes, there are showers fed by rain

water on every floor, and there is no hookup to the citys sewer due to composting toilets which

compost waste to produce agricultural grade compost. All of this only cost the developers one-

fifth above average costs of an office building of its class. Commented [AO8]: Explain why this is relevant and
important for the topic you are researching.