Passive buildings as baseline for the new grid

Michael Knezovich
Username
Michael Knezovich
Proposer First Name
Michael
Proposer Email
mknezo@phius.org
Proposer Last Name
Knezovich
Proposer Company/Organization
Phius
Proposer Phone
(312) 213-0507
Proposer Job Title
Director of Communications
Proposed Session Description
The energy grid is already complicated, and consumers acting as generators of energy adds more complexity. Passive building is an essential baseline for a new energy grid that is more sustainable and resilient. There is significant opportunity to make buildings part of the solution and help facilitate renewable energy. We must facilitate communication between and building response to grid signals. This is critical to optimizing energy and planning for the future.This presentation will demonstrate how ‘conservation-oriented’ Net-Zero buildings should be favored over ‘renewable-oriented’ because they: Decrease the mis-match between daily on-site energy generation and use, Depend less on the grid overall, Have the ability to shed space conditioning loads when called upon (demand response) and minimally impact comfort in the space. Instead of calling on new generation during peaks, demand response enables the demand side of the equation to optimize resources. Energy efficiency may lower the peak, but it doesn’t necessarily change the load shape. Passive buildings can shift and change the load shape! Passive buildings can allow for adjustments in space conditioning based on grid responses, and float through peak times with little to no impact on comfort. Grid integration strategies must include reducing overall electrical loads, flattening the daily electrical load curve, reducing the mismatch between on-site PV generation and energy use, deploying demand response systems, and controlling electric water heaters, and other major appliances

Comments

Marc Rosenbaum Sat, 11/06/2021 - 9:40 am

I've heard a version of this session presented very ably by Lisa at a Passive House Conference. If this has not been previously presented at Building Energy then I think this is a strong contender, so with that said, I'd say YES. This presentation makes clear how very low load buildings advance the penetration of renewable electricity into the grid.

Heather Iworsky Sun, 11/14/2021 - 1:25 pm

I have watched Lisa's video online and find the material to be interesting and I like the way she engaged the participants.  The participants had a lot of post presenetation asks so I hope she provides the solutions at NESEA Boston and most of the audience (nationally broadcasted) were from the NorthEast. I say Yes for Round 1.  A good passive building presentation is a must!

Heather Iworsky Mon, 12/06/2021 - 4:37 pm

Yes for Round 2Lisa is very enthusiastic about this topic and has a lot of experience delivering this presentation and many more at similar conferences.  It's not a Passive House 101, it is a bit more advanced and digs into the concepts of getting to net zero, reducing loads, building envelope and electrification with the help of a passive house model. She will discuss a bit on code but not in great detail.  I also learned this is for all building types (Resi, LMI, Commercial) and is geared towards utility representatives, architects, engineers.  She's from Chicago but this passive concept works for New England too rather the PHI out of Germany, which is for a much different climate. 60 minutes is more than enough time for a presentation.  She can typically deliver this in 30 minutes. Plenty of time for Q&A.  She wasn't sure if someone else from PHIUS submitted a proposal or if they should attend the workshop with her.  Usually, she presents alone but might invite someone to assist if 60 minutes, so it mixes things up a bit.  She's handeled panel formats as well, but really the panelists would need to have a topic that is a common subject and then would need 90 mins total (30 min each). From  my review of Under Consideration Passive themed topics, I'm not seeing anything that is similar or a good fit.  I think it would confuse people more than help.  Overall, this does fit the theme and I'm confident attendees will enjoy and learn a great deal from Lisa.  She is OK with in-person or remote but in-person is preferrable.  She's attended NESEA conferences before but doesn't recall speaking at the Boston event. 

Ben Sachs-Hamilton Fri, 12/17/2021 - 10:26 am

R2 Discussion:Is this is in the wrong category? Is there anything else that is energy production and storage? Should we reanimate something? Touches on electrification, similar to session 101, some overlap. Great speaker, this is different from 101 in several key ways. Closer to building envelope? Great presentation, lots of interesting attendees, great speaker. Representing PHIUS, are there too many PHIUS sessions? Willing to combine and merge if it makes sense. How does this fit into New England? Works for retrofit, new construction. Not really about sizing a renewable energy system. How is this related to "Who's in?" Applies to many, many building types and interdisciplinary practitioners in either new designs or remodels.

Diversity and Inclusiveness
A resilient grid that uses passive building as part of the solution is a key to housing equity in the face of climate change.
Learning Objectives
Overview of how the electric grid operates.
Challenges of PV integration into the grid.
Introductions to building+grid integration strategies using passive building vs code case study and other strategies.
Discuss grid independence / passive survivability
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
Presentation was Presented at NBI Getting To Zero Forum Oct. 2021
Session Format
Workshop or skill-building session
Session Format Details
Slide presentation plus QA and discussion
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Reviewer 1
Rosenbaum, Marc
Reviewer 2
Iworsky, Heather
Curator
Iworsky, Heather
Proposal #
145
Session #
310
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters

Full Description
Energy conservation has a ripple effect throughout the electric grid – lowering the renewable generation capacity needed, storage needed, and transmission capacity needed to handle future electric loads. The answer is not just throwing more renewables--reduce loads first!