Technological Dimensions of Nearly ZEB Design: Evolving toward a Nearly Zero Energy Oriented Landscape - Pages 80-85

Filippo Angelucci

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2017.06.03.1

Published: 28 February 2018

Abstract: Today, the implementation framework of Zero Energy Building strategies is characterised by a complex transitional phase. In fact, it is still difficult to achieve completely autonomous buildings, disconnected from any power-supply network.

Despite the negative impact of climate-change and the progressive loss of non-renewable resources on our lifestyles, the global economic-financial crisis, local cultural-technological barriers, and the cost/complexity of design processes keep investment in this area unattractive.

However, there is an intermediate approach that can facilitate a gradual re-direction of building actions through the ZEB logic. It can be identified in the alternative of Near Zero Energy Building (Nearly ZEB or Near Net ZEB).

The Nearly ZEB approach, with its multiplicity of design aspects (i.e. cognitive, analytical, technical, and managerial) may configure a widespread state of progressive transition towards the architectural/inhabitable constructions sought by the 20-20-20 logic, at the scale of the building, the city, and the landscape.

These constructions have lower emissions, produce more energy from renewable sources, consume less non-renewable energy, and can “also” reach the objective of total energy autonomy (ZEB) or Plus Energy.

A twofold operating scenario emerges from this point of view. It is centred on the technological dimensions of designing a Nearly Zero Energy living space by overcoming the traditional concept of a building as a single object.

On the one hand, there is a need for a greater interaction between technological innovations and inhabitable spaces, in a trans-scalar key; design becomes an open process of technological-environmental modifications that addresses the transition towards the status of ZEB.

On the another hand, it becomes fundamental that the relationship between interior and exterior space, both public and private, is increasingly focused on the design of interface-systems in order to harmonise three new levels of relations (city-building, city-land, and building-land) and to configure a Nearly Zero Energy Oriented Landscape.

These aspects emerge from the contributions presented in this special issue on The Technological Dimensions of Nearly Zero Energy Building Design and will be addressed in this essay.

Keywords: Nearly ZEB Process, Environmental-Technological Design, Inter-systemic/Trans-scalar Design, Environmental Interfaces, Nearly Zero Energy Oriented Landscape.

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The Future of Research and Experimentation in Technological Design of the Relationships between Architecture, Energy and Environment - Pages 86-93

Filippo Angelucci

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2017.06.03.2

Published: 28 February 2018

Abstract: The problematic nature of the centrality of the focal core formed of the Technological Design/ Energy / Environment relationship has never been so evident as at the present time, together with the need to tackle it urgently. Humanity has been directly interfacing with the energy issue and the "non-renewability" of resources on the one hand, and the question of harmful and climate-changing emissions on the other part for other for at least thirty years. This is the reason why it is our principal scientific and ethical duty to focus a major part of our attention and efforts on research – as proved in Italy by a significant part of the activities of PhD Program in "Planning Design Technology" of Sapienza University of Rome, by "NZEB" cluster of SITdA Italian Society of Technology of Architecture and by National Work Group "Green Economy for Architecture and Cities" of CNGE National Council on the Green Economy – in order to take significant steps forward. And to provide incisive answers for the emergency situations represented by, to use the two iconic terms of the much larger set of questions, the Climate and Energy problems. On the other hand, if it is true that the Nearly Zero Energy Building slogan specifically alludes to the scale of action, what is certain is that, at an international level, this is not the sole correct level on which we can and we must operate in order to have a chance of success, effectiveness and obtainment of that efficiency referred to in the first European directive 2002/91/EC through to the most recent 2010/31/EU “Energy Performance of Buildings” and 2012/27/EU "Energy Efficiency" which, inter alia, establish the concept of NZE architecture. So the working dimension becomes primarily "a-scaleable", in its need to oscillate constantly, with ongoing feedback, between actions at various leveles. Research related to the broad areas of Nearly Zero Energy Architecture developed in recent years fits into Technological Design in this sense and in this light, mainly in relation to regeneration of the existing architectural heritage, technologies for new building projects, process governance, the systemic approach on an urban scale, environmental and energy sustainability protocols, smart communities and cultural heritage.

Keywords: Near Zero Energy Architecture, Technological Design, Ecoefficiency, Built Environment, Green Economy.

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