Alessandro Merigo, architect from Lumezzane, Italy, has written ten tips to design Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs). In Italy all public buildings will be near zero energy from 2018, and all other construction from 2020.
1. Start with the shell
2. Use appropriate software
3. Input real climate data
4. Avoid thermal bridges
5. Ensure air tightness
6. Think about air exchange
7. Reduce HVAC
8. Use renewable energy
9. Check the budget
10. Collaboration is the key of success
Note that only one of these is about producing energy, and seven are about reducing energy losses.
