Site Power: Renewable Energy Opportunities  

The ultimate goal of the 2030 Challenge is fossil fuel free buildings by the year 2030. As buildings approach zero for their carbon footprint, on-site renewable energy sources become a key element to realizing that goal. As the lower-up-front-cost conservation and efficiency measures are exhausted, renewable energy emerges as the final step to reaching aggressive carbon elimination goals. This session will explore the relationship between conservation and renewable energy, and investigate current renewable energy opportunities, both onsite and offsite systems, such as combined heat and power and local district energy (valuable for load sharing).

AIA+2030 Learning Objectives:

• Identify the major on-site renewable energy strategies for buildings.
• Propose an appropriate renewable energy strategy based on site characteristics and resources.
• Enumerate the life cycle costs and benefits of on-site renewable energy.
• Understand how district energy can provide thermal and electric services and balance neighborhood loads.