• home
  • chevron_right
  • Courses
  • chevron_right
  • Achieving Zero Energy Building Design

Achieving Zero Energy Building Design

2020-AZEBD
Included in subscription Included in subscription
8.00 LU|HSW
4.36
Course expires on: 08/09/2026
$100
Architect$100

Member Price

$150

Non-member Price

Sign in to purchase chevron_right

Description

With the trend toward decarbonization increasing interest in net zero carbon buildings and on-site renewable energy, it is essential architects and design professionals understand the process and factors to consider, the best practices and procedures, and where to find the resources to complete a zero energy building design.

The Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) Series has been supporting this effort for over a decade. The guides provide definitions and processes; solution sets by climate zone with a mix of prescriptive and performance-based approaches; guidance on strategies, including whole-building integration approaches; recommended energy targets; and examples of buildings with performance data showing proven techniques and achievable targets.  

Adapted from the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings and featuring case studies of zero energy K-12 schools, this highly interactive, self-paced learning program offers recommendations, strategies, and resources for achieving zero-energy commercial buildings to help design practitioners improve their skills in high-efficiency building design. 

The course was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Course expires on 8/9/2026.

Learning Objectives

check

Define zero energy buildings

check

Discuss the different terms used for zero energy

check

Explain the benefits associated with achieving zero energy

Module 2: Developing Energy Budget and Key Performance Criteria

  • Identify the key steps to an integrated zero energy design process
  • Appreciate the importance of conducting an iterative analysis throughout the design process
  • Implement each step in the integrated zero energy design process

Module 3: Building Performance Simulation

  • Define building performance simulation and describe each of its elements
  • Identify different simulation types and how to use the results
  • Interpret the feedback provided from each simulation type and how it can be analyzed and used to make design decisions

Module 4: Building the Team

  • Describe the role that a designer plays in being a champion for zero energy design
  • Discuss the key characteristics of a zero energy design team
  • Describe techniques and methods to get all team members focused on the goal of zero energy

Module 5: Creating a Collaborative Mindset

  • Describe the strategies for setting energy goals
  • Discuss the steps for developing collaboration across all teams and creating an integrated design as applied to zero energy buildings

Module 6: Developing Quality Assurance and Commissioning

  • Discuss the role of the QA team
  • Describe how QA/QC plans are created to achieve the required performance
  • Describe the measurement and verification period, how long it should last, and items to consider
  • Identify the strategies used to monitor and maintain building efficiency
  • Discuss the importance of sustaining zero energy performance and reducing energy consumption in the long term

Module 7: Project Planning

  • Discuss the key components and factors to consider when simultaneously meeting budget and energy performance goals
  • Describe the loading order to efficiently design and construct a zero energy building
  • Understand how to manage a project so that all decisions evaluate energy impacts

Module 8: Strategies for Architects

  • Discuss site and building design strategies to consider when designing a zero energy building
  • Describe the key items to consider when designing a building envelope that is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to meeting the energy goals
  • Identify the key factors to consider for achieving energy savings when designing daylighting
  • Describe the options available to achieve energy savings through electric lighting without compromising performance

Module 9: Strategies for Engineers

  • Describe ways that engineers can help hit EUI targets
  • Identify ways to maximize energy efficiency while improving indoor environmental quality
  • Describe the best practices for reducing energy consumption of the service water heating system
  • Discuss strategies to reduce energy consumption in kitchen equipment
  • Discuss different renewable energy sources that can be used as part of a zero energy building design

Module 10: Effective Envelopes

  • Describe the role that the building envelope plays in zero energy design
  • Identify the steps for optimizing the envelope
  • Describe thermal bridges and their detailing
  • Discuss the steps and criteria needed to perform envelope testing
  • Discuss the multi-disciplined aspects of creating an effective envelope

Module 11: HVAC Systems

  • Identify the necessary design parameters for HVAC systems in zero energy buildings
  • Discuss the factors to consider when completing loading calculations in order to "right-size" HVAC equipment.
  • Describe the controls used for HVAC systems in zero energy buildings
  • Discuss design features that improve the ease of maintenance of HVAC systems for zero energy buildings.

Module 12: Plug Loads

  • Describe the importance of plug loads
  • Discuss why plug loads are part of the design problem
  • Describe strategies for controlling plug loads
  • Engage occupants in the success of the building

 

Similar courses

card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Setting Fees
This course takes a detailed look at setting fees, providing you with in-depth understanding of the impact of risk and the value of the services architects provide.  You will learn "top-down", "bottom-up" and 'staff level" methods for building fees, with additional discussion of creating and managing contingencies properly.   Course expires on 5/21/2026.

1.00 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Why is Accessibility So Hard?
Accessible design is inherently challenging because it’s not a "settled science." Standards are constantly evolving—sometimes even in conflict with one another. This course will cut through the confusion. Our discussion/exploration will: Review compliance missteps and achievements in real-world scenarios Identify phases of the design process where various concerns are best addressed Help you create a clear plan for accessibility success Address questions, comments, and concerns from members like you Hear from accessibility experts and learn from the experiences of your peers in this clarifying course. Course expires on 4/19/2026.

1.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Disruptive Small Firm Practices: Innovative Models for Expanding Services
A disruptive innovation helps create a new market and value network. In this course, three professionals will demonstrate how firms can utilize these innovations to expand into more sustainable and resilient business models beyond traditional architecture. Learn how to: Utilize tools to re-conceptualize your firm's expanded services offerings Determine how expanded services integrate with your current business models Develop strategies for marketing expanded services to new and existing architectural clients Consider how expanded services augment opportunities for traditional architectural services offerings Course expires on 1/2/2026.

1.00 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Accessible Architecture: Designing for Success (Part 2)
To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law. In Part 2, go in depth on compliance issues regarding accessible routes, ramps, parking spaces, protruding objects, doors and clear floor space, controls, and counters. Typical design issues will be highlighted regarding convenience stores, gas stations, and other retail outlets as well as specific cases involving owner decisions which negate ADA compliance. Course expires 5/22/2025

1.25 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Business of Architecture: Finance and Risk Management for Architects
This course explores concepts related to the finances in running an architecture firm and risk management. Large firms, small firms as well as sole practitioners need financial plans and risk management plans to sustain their practices, relationships and livelihood. Risk management should be embedded into the DNA of any firm or project. Learn high level ideas related to capitalization and investing and how you can apply them using the ABC’s of finance (Agreements, Budgets & Billing, and Collections) as well as key principles and considerations in managing risk at both the firm and project levels. Course expires 05/30/2025

1.50 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Copy-Catting: Intellectual Property Principles and Rights
This course instructs architects and other design professionals about principles of intellectual property law as they relate to the creation, reproduction and use of original drawings, specifications and other documents. It is based on the premise that every design professional should have a solid working knowledge of intellectual property law, particularly copyright law, as it affects their work products and their use of other people’s work products. The issues have to do with compensation, professional credit and professional liability and are very important to the business of architecture. Course expires 4/19/2025

1.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
AIA Entrepreneur Summit 2015: New Models
Within the context of business models, what are the characteristics that would make someone a successful entrepreneur? What are the obstacles for architects to break out of our traditional model? Economics plays a central role in our ability to expand services or take our practice in new directions.  Our expert panel, moderated by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, considers ways in which architects can create new sources of revenue by expanding their practices in different ways and embracing new models for doing business.  Questions explored include how architects are uniquely suited to development, key measures for exploring development opportunities, and factors influencing the decision process around undertaking a new business venture.   This cutting-edge discussion will inspire and enlighten you. This course expires on 4/20/2026.  

1.50 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Implementing the 2012 IECC for Commercial Construction
The 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code has been adopted by AHJs in many parts of the country. The 2012 IECC is a quantum leap forward in building performance and will have a significant impact on how architects and engineers work together to design high energy efficient, high performance buildings. In this course, speakers illustrate the changes in the code affecting architecture design and give an in depth look into the building science and physics behind the the changes and how they will result in significant energy reductions. They will emphasize that the process to achieve compliance must be a team effort among all members of the project early on and describe how to demonstrate compliance with the code and advantages and disadvantages for each pathway. This course is presented in collaboration with AIA Middle Tennessee, which produced the course and provided it for delivery on AIAU.  Course expires 5/22/2025

2.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Profit…then Art: 12 Steps to Building a Successful Small Firm
How many architects have you met who said that they got into architecture for money? More often than not, the element of creativity and design was the #1 motivating aspect for someone in the profession. But should it be? After viewing this course, you may become an architect who sees the word “profit” in a different way. Taking the steps and setting the foundation for a strong, healthy, profitable business can lead to an architect having the freedom to create art and more of it. This course presents the basic 12 fundamentals essential to a successful business in architecture, describing how they work and how to apply them in a small firm environment

1.00 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Business Strategy
Keynote speaker Jim Cramer and a panel of experts in the business of architecture offer insightful analysis on the state of the profession as well as the fundamentals and entrepreneurial possibilities of a solid business strategy. Questions considered include: business education for emerging professionals, factors limiting small firm success, alternative career paths, and opportunities architects have to expand their services beyond the traditional design firm. This is a master class in business strategy for practitioners, providing insight and inspiration for anyone interested in improving the way they do business. Course expires 4/20/2025

1.50 LU