Understanding building decarbonization with net zero carbon buildings
There is a need to decarbonize the world’s-built environment by 2050 to meet global climate change goals. This point of view aims to address and provide clear pathways by which buildings can achieve net zero. It presents core definitions of zero carbon buildings as well as ways to classify carbon emissions. It also looks at aspects related to the building’s energy demand and supply to reduce operational emissions to zero. It addresses ZCB components and the hierarchy of use for these strategies.
Energy efficiency comes first, followed by using on-site renewable energy. Off-site renewable energy is the next choice, with carbon offsets as the final strategy to compensate for the remaining carbon emissions that cannot be avoided through efficiency measures and carbon-free renewable energy supply.
