Resource Library

This comprehensive guide, developed by Phius with funding provided by the AIA Upjohn Research Initiative grant, was prepared to assist architects in navigating rapidly emerging design issues associated with decarbonization and resilience. It also presents a case study exploring the interactions of numerous microgrid design variables with several project intents at both a building and neighborhood level setting.

Phius Associate Director Lisa White reviews a hypothetical existing residential neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and examines how enclosure performance levels impact the building load.

Phius Associate Director Lisa White discusses the Architect's Guide to Ultra-Low-Energy Buildings, Microgrids & Direct Current, developed for the AIA by Phius through funding provided by an Upjohn Research Initiative grant.

Phius Associate Director Lisa White chronicles her experience at the recent Innovative Housing Showcase, where she presented and attended various sessions.

In Part III of our Facilitating the Renewable Transition blog series, Phius Associate Director Lisa White dives into the topics of grid-interactive technology and demand response.

In Part II of our Facilitating the Renewable Transition blog series, Phius Associate Director Lisa White examines how passive buildings interact with the grid and how that relationship is evolving.

Phius Associate Director Lisa White examines the interactivity between passive buildings and the future of the grid.

This presentation covers grid-building interaction and responsiveness and why buildings have to be efficient for the grid to be reliable providing uninterruptible power supply. Efficient buildings are load flexible, provide flattened peak demands and will be the basis for future networks of renewable energy powered microgrids.

Cowburn discusses the evolution of DC power and controls in homes and buildings, and how you can provide efficiency, resilience, and a great occupant experience without exceeding your budget or relying on hard-to-find technicians or programmers.

As more renewable energy resources are added to the electric grid, operation and reliability become more difficult for the grid operators. Building designers are in a unique position to create buildings that improve this issue, rather than add to it. Various high performance buildings standards incentivize using less energy, but timing of energy use is not addressed, nor are peak demands. For example, the current framework for the Net Zero Energy buildings credits each kWh of energy production the same - regardless of when it's produced. There are improvements and strategies that building designers should be aware of to improve their integration with the electric grid and enhance renewable energy integration into the grid. This session aims to cover the Net Zero building-grid integration issues at hand, offer a few solutions, and discuss how passive building techniques can handle some of these issues.