Successfully Implementing Net-Zero Energy Policy through the Air Force Military Construction Program
Abstract
The U.S. Government has issued numerous policies aimed at reducing federal facility energy consumption; the most recent, Executive Order 13514, requires that new construction designed after 2020 can achieve net-zero energy by 2030. The policy defines a Zero-Energy Building as one that is designed, constructed, and operated to reduce energy demand to a level which can be offset from sources of renewable energy. This research develops and evaluates a feasibility assessment model based on life-cycle cost. It incorporates geospatial analysis to calculate and summarize input values for all Air Force installations in the Contiguous U.S. A comparative analysis is then conducted to rank each installation in terms of the net-savings of constructing a Zero-Energy Building. The ranking is performed for three facility types and then utilized to prove that there is a significant and direct rank correlation between them. This conclusion allows follow-on feasibility assessments to be limited to those installations and facility types which will maximize the likelihood of achieving a cost-effective Zero-Energy Building. Finally, a strategy is recommended which will comply with federal net-zero energy policy, reduce facility operational costs, and ultimately allow for energy security and independence at Air Force installations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA579301
Entities
People
- D. G. Brost
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology