A Plus Energy Building is an energy efficient building that produces more final energy than it uses via locally available renewable sources over a time span of one year. Buildings uses include both building operation and user related energy consumption. The positive balance shall be reached while ensuring the lowest greenhouse gas emissions and a good dynamic matching between load and generation, according to economic affordability and to technical viability.The definition applies to all-electric buildings and the energy balance is based on measured or predicted final energy between load and generation (1).
The energy generation shall be performed by renewable energy systems located within building footprint and can be extended to adjacent lots as long as there is a physical connection and direct control of renewable energy generation system relying on ownership of the buildings or lots, neighborhood grid infrastructure and building management. Besides the plus energy balance verification, PEBs shall ensure an added value i) to the context by providing building flexibility and easy access to e-mobility and ii) to final users by providing accessible, comfortable and healthy indoor environments.
(1) In case of new buildings electrification is an inevitable process. In case other renewable energy vectors are used in the building (i.e. biomass, biogas…), final energy balance shall be zero.
