2013-09, Burger, Bastian, Hall, Monika, Geissler, Achim

With the net zero energy balance for heating, domestic hot water, ventilation and auxiliary energy, the Swiss MINERGIE-A Standard is a major step towards standardized, economically feasible net zero energy buildings. Not only the zero energy balance but also the requirement for limited embodied energy is a new challenge for architects and designers. In the two years since the launching of the Standard and the writing of this paper, approx. 240 buildings have been certified or pre certified. The new standard is widely accepted and its challenges are appreciated in the building sector. A cross analysis shows that a wide range of different energy concepts and embodied energy strategies are possible in the scope of the Standard. The wide variety of options is one of the main findings of the rollout of this new zero-balanced standard.

2013-01, Hall, Monika

The first available label standardizing a zero-balanced type of building is the Swiss Standard Minergie-A. The Standard prescribes an annual net zero primary energy balance for heating, domestic hot water and ventilation. Electricity consumption for appliances and lighting is excluded. Additionally, Minergie-A is the first standard worldwide which includes a requirement in regard to embodied energy. Based on an analysis of 39 Minergie-A buildings, this paper shows that a wide range of different energy concepts and embodied energy strategies are possible in the scope of the label. The basis of all Minergie-A buildings is a well-insulated building envelope. However, the step from the Swiss Standard Minergie-A to a Net ZEB (net zero energy building) standard which includes electricity consumption for appliances and lighting is not a very big one. Increasing the size of the photovoltaic system is sufficient in most cases. Anyway, some of the Minergie-A buildings evaluated are also Net ZEBs. In this paper, it is also shown that the net zero balance during the operational phase of Net ZEBs clearly outweighs the increased embodied energy for additional materials in a life cycle energy analysis.

2012-08-20T00:00:00Z, Hall, Monika

The worldwide discussion concerning the reduction of energy consumption and of greenhouse gas emission in the building sector has led to the design of low (Passive house), nearly or net zero energy buildings. The first available label standardizing a zero-balanced type of building is the Swiss standard Minergie-A. Additionally, Minergie-A is the first standard worldwide which includes a requirement in regard to embodied energy. The common Minergie-A building is very well insulated, features a heat pump and generates renewable energy on-site by photovoltaic panels. The difference between Minergie-A and Net ZEB is that the net zero energy balance of Minergie-A excludes plug-loads and lighting. The comparison of life cycle energy shows that the life cycle energy of a Net ZEB is much lower than for Minergie-A. Concerning the life cycle energy, a Net ZEB is preferable.