Course Description

For nearly two decades, ‘net-zero’ has been a rallying cry for architects pursuing sustainable design. In 2006, solar and wind energy represented a negligible part of the grid, but in the past 15+ years renewable but intermittent solar and wind have been the fastest growing sources of energy. As we approach 2030, we ask ourselves: is net-zero the right goal or does our goal require more nuance?

The challenge is that the grid must always strike a balance between energy generation and energy consumption, not just on average over the course of the year. Historically we have maintained this balance by adjusting power plant generation to match the demand; increasingly, we will be turning to buildings to help maintain the balance. This session will offer considerations for building-grid interactions.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Attendees will be project team members familiar with design for commercial buildings, including a basic understanding of building systems and energy efficiency strategies.

Learning Objectives

Describe the changes happening to the electric grid and why they can inform how we design buildings

Realize how the timing of energy use affects its environmental impact

Evaluate which types of strategies can make a building a good “grid citizen”

Compare and contrast metrics that can be used to evaluate building interaction with the grid

GBCI Self-Reporting

This course has also been approved for 1 GBCI CE hour. GBCI course ID: 0920027168

Interested in this educational session for your firm?

We can provide this course in-person or virtually. Reach out to your local Willdan contact to schedule: