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Introduction

Zero energy buildings are about balance. Zero energy buildings are designed to balance low energy consumption with on-site renewable energy production to meet their entire energy loads over 12 months. Zero energy buildings are usually connected to the utility grid to provide energy whenever renewable energy production is insufficient to meet required loads and to return energy to the grid when renewable energy production exceeds the loads. This guide provides insight on how to achieve a zero energy school.

The qualities of a zero energy school, and the process required to create it, can encourage student learning and student success, create healthy, high-performance learning environments, provide sound fiscal management of community resources, and demonstrate environmental leadership in minimizing the impact of the built environment.