Hybrid Systems: Exploring Decentralized Water Management at an Urban Residence

Abstract

Once considered impossible, “netzero energy” design has become an increasingly accessible option in green building practice. The popular phrase describes buildings which use passive design principles, limit plug loads, and use onsite energygeneration devices such as solar panels to produce at least as much energy as the building consumes per year. Energy production and consumption are inextricably linked to the production and consumption of another valuable resource: water. The two resources should be considered in tandem to gain a clearer picture of the global optimum in a sustainable building design. However, “netzero water” design has proven more elusive in practice. Although water is often as readily available onsite as energy, it cannot be shared with the city grid, may not be of uniform quality across building sites, and cannot be stored without changes in quality. Despite these challenges, as our aging water infrastructure becomes increasingly stressed due to climate changeinduced severe weather events, the concept of “netzero water” design in buildings warrants consideration. Further, with existing buildings comprising the majority of our infrastructure, to wield a significant impact, “netzero” must be considered in the context of retrofit. The climate adaptation challenge of retrofitting the country’s first netzero en-