Designing toward net-zero energy with photovoltaics

CannonDesign’s Michael Brinkman and David Broering, PE, LEED AP, share insights into how photovoltaic (PV) installations can help architects and engineers achieve aggressive energy goals—most notably, net-zero energy performance.

As sustainability and decarbonization become central tenets of building design, Brinkman and Broering highlight the importance of understanding Energy Use Intensity (EUI), a metric that helps define how efficiently a building operates. They explore how design teams can balance investments in energy conservation measures with on-site renewable energy generation — especially in multistory or energy-intensive facilities.

The paper emphasizes that while rooftop PV systems offer significant potential, their capacity is often constrained by space limitations and competing rooftop uses. As such, architects must think creatively — extending rooflines, integrating solar canopies and engaging project teams early in design to align massing and orientation with PV goals.

Using tools like the AIA’s Zero Tool and NREL’s PVWatts calculator, Brinkman and Broering illustrate how even modest design choices can yield major gains in energy performance. A case study of a two-story university building demonstrates how targeting a 31 EUI and optimizing roof area can offset up to 82 percent of the building’s energy consumption — bringing the vision of zero-energy buildings closer to reality.