Developing a Net-Zero Framework for the WPI Campus

Abstract

Climate change is causing many people globally to consider their energy consumption and how it could be decreased. To achieve this goal, many buildings are being designed as net-zero energy by implementing various energy saving strategies. This project investigates this goal on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) campus. Campus-[AD1] wide energy consumption was analyzed for developing baseline energy models. These models were created based on existing building plans, and energy analysis was conducted by implementing strategies and determining the energy savings across the WPI Quadrangle (Quad). From this analysis, recommendations were given for which strategies to implement at WPI, and a modular solar canopy was designed to be implemented across campus