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“Net-zero energy buildings” is flagged as one of the fast growing trends to watch in 2015. As examples of the trend is the LEED Platinum & Living Building Challenge certified Bullitt Center in Seattle, home of Cascadia Green Building Council and the International Living Future Institute.
While someone may consider these and other projects as isolated examples, it looks like that this may dramatically change in coming years.
Net zero buildings are more realistic and affordable thanks to falling costs of on-site generation (especially solar PV), ultra-efficient HVAC systems, LED lighting and other technologies.
And then policies. A new European directive requires all new public buildings to achieve near-zero energy status by the end of 2018 and all other new buildings to achieve the same benchmark by the end of 2020. In addition, according to CleanEdge, mandates in 17 Asia-Pacific countries will increase that region’s share of global near-zero buildings, with most growth in India, China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. Meanwhile, the California Energy Commission’s Title 24 building code mandates require net-zero status for all new residential construction by 2020 and for all new commercial buildings by 2030.
The renowned architecture firm SOM is looking ahead trying already to push the boundary by designing the Pertamina Energy Tower, a supertall net-zero energy tower.
Centrepiece of a new consolidated headquarters created for the Indonesian state-owned energy company, the new tower will rise more than 500 meters above Jakarta as a stunning new landmark on the capital’s skyline. Sustainability and energy are the key drivers for this cutting-edge design.
We all look forward to discovering more about the building in the next few months.
Source: SOM