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Zero net energy (ZNE) buildings have captivated the minds of leading design firms, companies, schools, foundations and governments that are showing the way to a lower-carbon future. In just a few years ZNE has transitioned from a high challenging concept to a quite probable future. ZNE buildings have now moved beyond a handful of small demonstration projects by universities or non-profits to more widely mainstream building types and sizes.
Among the verified energy-neutral-verified buildings completed in the U.S. and Canada, many of them have been awarded LEED Gold or Platinum certification, according to the report recently released by New Buildings Institute (NBI). Some of the ZNE buildings are certified under the Living Building Challenge. An even more interesting aspect, is that at least half of today’s top energy-performing buildings are “pushing the envelope” in in areas beyond the building energy use aiming to reduce the impacts across a full range of human and environmental health metrics.
“It’s good news for people and the planet that zero net energy buildings are investing in areas beyond building energy use.” says Jeremy Sigmon, Director of Technical Policy at U.S. Green Building Council.
Without any doubt, green building certification programs such as the LEED and the Living Building Challenge continue to provide a strong framework to create new ZNE build practices providing the ground for private and public investment.
Among the NBI’s research outcomes, it appears that green and net-zero can be achieved at conventional construction costs.
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So, let’s expect more from the building industry and research activities in the near future!
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