Challenges of achieving zero energy education buildings

Buildings have significant impacts on the environment, economy, and society. Buildings account for 40% of the total energy consumption in the U.S. To improve the energy efficiency of buildings, the use of zero energy buildings (ZEB) has increased in recent years. The main objective of this research study is to investigate the challenges of attaining a zero energy education building by analyzing a case study of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) building at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The ECE building was envisioned and planned to be the largest zero energy education building in the country and the world. Although the building has been in operation since 2015, it is still attempting to attain its zero energy goals and performance. The objectives of this study are to (1) conduct a comprehensive literature review of the current practices and the latest research conducted on zero energy buildings; (2) evaluate the performance of a large education building, that was planned to be the largest ZEB in the U.S., as a case study, to analyze the challenges confronting its design and construction; (3) investigate the causes that prevented the analyzed case study from accomplishing its zero-energy goal and develop recommendations to enhance its current performance; and identify lessons learned that can be used to improve the design and construction of future similar ZEB.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Elsherbiny, Amira Hesham Saad

Contributors dc:contributor

• El-Rayes, Khaled

• Zero Energy Building, Sustainability, Education Building

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2019 Amira Elsherbiny

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106139

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/106139