Net Zero Energy House:
Lessons Learned

Charles Muldrow, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Charles holds a BS Design and an M.Arch from Clemson University, and is a founding partner and design principal of Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects in Mount Pleasant. Charles has been active in BEC-Charleston since its inception, and places an emphasis on the design of high quality building envelopes within his practice.  In 2007, while chair of BEC | Charleston, he leveraged his involvement with the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club to foster a joint venture with BEC Charleston and East Cooper Habitat for Humanity, to fund and build a Net Zero Energy House for Habitat for Humanity.  Charles has twice been selected as the Charleston Contractors’ Association’s Architect of the Year.  Among other various awards, SMHa was the recipient of the 2004 AIA/SC Firm Award.

Dennis Knight, PE, LEED AP

Dennis is the Founder and Principal of Whole Building Systems LLC. He has 37 years’ experience providing engineering, design and construction-related services within the building industry. He is active at local, state and national levels with various agencies and professional societies to help develop sustainable, integrated building design guidelines. As an ASHRAE Member, Dennis is Vice Chair for Research Promotion, serves as chair of the Handbook Subcommittee to develop handbook chapters for "Integrated Building Design" and is a member of the BIM Steering Committee.  He is also active in US Green Building Council South Carolina Chapter, SC Office of School Facility Design Guide Committee and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).  Previously, Dennis was Principal & Director of Practice Management for Liollio Architecture. Before that, he was Owner and Managing Member of both a local engineering company and a construction company for 21 years.

Summary

One year ago BEC-Charleston celebrated along with their partners, East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club and East Cooper Habitat for Humanity, as the proud owner took occupancy of the Net Zero Energy House (NZEH).  This event culminated 2 years of design, fund-raising, and construction—all intended to showcase the lessons learned over the years of BEC Charleston meetings.  The rubber met the road in the construction of the NZEH.  After a year, how has it performed?  What are the take-away lessons from the NZEH?  How can you apply these lessons to buildings that you design, build, inspect, and occupy?

Outline

• NZEH Design and Construction
• Performance Considerations for NZEH
• Measuring and Evaluating Performance for NZEH