San Diego Renewable Energy Society

Net Zero Energy Architecture ?

Residential / Commercial / Institutional

11 November 2009

Stanley Keniston, AIA

Keniston Architects, lp

brief program overview

What’s au courant as being enlightened architectural design today has certainly been done before, but the urgency of pursuing a clear direction has never been so compelling.

This presentation will focus on the many contexts within which designers, builders, owners and regulators exist vis-à-vis timely response to significant environmental imperatives. We will take a specific look into the “tool box” of key development and building design strategies that can collectively have a positive impact on the broad forces of climate change.

We will explore the positive environmental impact of thoughtful architectural design, with particular attention being paid to whole systems thinking. Various meanings of “Zero Energy” buildings will be considered, especially in the face of what is commonly accepted as being “Green” or “sustainable.”

And a pair of essential questions will be posed:

What can we do?

Which energy path should be taken?

Specific project examples will be shown and described for their primary environmental design attributes – beginning with smaller scale residential works, moving through larger scale commercial projects, and concluding with emphasis on design applications in Institutional settings.