A Living Building harnesses a site’s existing heating, cooling and ventilation resources and optimizes operational efficiency, then accounts for the remaining energy load with clean, renewable forms.

The ideal is simple: a safe, decentralized power grid relying completely on renewable energy, powering incredibly efficient buildings. Technologies exist; the major limitation to this ideal currently is cost.

While the ideal is conceptually simple (a building produces as much energy as it consumes), actualization requires mastering and orchestrating myriad design and technical skills. The sessions in the Energy Petal represent the diverse knowledge base needed to attain zero energy buildings.

Sessions

E01: Context and integration   

E02: Building performance metrics: tools and performance prediction    July 16, 2008

E03: Load reduction    Available October 20, 2008

E04: Lighting and daylighting    Available October 20, 2008

E05: Passive strategies    Available December 15, 2008

E06: Active strategies    Available December 15, 2008

E07: Generative strategies/alternative energy    Available December 15, 2008