“Deep Decarbonization Potential of an Office Building with Integration of Renewable Energy Solution /

Abstract

The US building sector's significant contribution to 40% of energy consumption and 39% of GHG emissions necessitates urgent deep decarbonization to achieve net zero energy goals. This study addresses a gap in understanding the deep decarbonization potential of a medium-sized office building and its net zero energy performance response within the US building sector. A comparative analysis was conducted to systematically compare the E3 Nexus of the building. Deep decarbonization strategies, including building envelope enhancements, indoor air quality improvements, heating and cooling system optimizations, and renewable energy integration, were applied to an office building model based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. This resulted in reductions of 50.6% in energy consumption, impacting cost savings to increase by about 44.3% and 50% GHG emission reduction. A case study was formulated where a comparative analysis of the office buildings model considering the USDA climate zone-based approach across different US states showed substantial energy and fuel savings in warmer and dry climate zones, with short payback periods ranging from 4.5 to 6.8 years in the energy efficiency analysis. Office buildings situated in hot climate zones emerged as the most profitable region for significant annual cost savings, revenue generation, energy savings, and positive energy, and substantial GHG emission reductions or negative emissions with the lowest percentage net-zero energy percentages as a result of deep decarbonization efforts. Whereas, post-decarbonization efforts in office buildings result in higher proposed net-zeroenergy percentages for office buildings in mixed-humid and cold-humid climate zones.