Characteristics of Net Zero Carbon Building

PREFACE
The need for net-zero buildings is growing as the world faces the pressing
challenge of the climate crisis. With global temperatures rising and extreme
weather events becoming more frequent, it is clear that action must be taken to
reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change. One
way to do this is through the creation of net-zero buildings, which can play a
critical role in reducing our overall energy consumption and dependence on
fossil fuels. Net-zero buildings are a carbon conscious response to the growing
need for sustainability in the built environment. With the construction industry
responsible for a significant amount of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, it
is essential that we look for ways to create buildings that are energy-efficient,
environmentally responsible, and sustainable. By incorporating renewable
energy systems, energy-efficient design, and sustainable materials, net-zero
buildings offer a solution to the problem of unsustainable building practices
and help to reduce the impact of the built environment on its unbuilt
counterpart.
CHARACTERISTICS OF NET ZERO CARBON BUILDING
NET METERING
Net metering is a system where building owners are compensated by utilities
for surplus electricity they generate and feed back into the grid, credited at the
same rate as the energy they consume from the grid. This allows energy
exchange without extra costs, making the grid function like a free, efficient
battery. Net metering provides a significant energy management advantage,
particularly for solar power systems.
However, utility companies vary in their approach to net metering—some offer

full credit, while others pay less or impose tariffs to cover grid maintenance
costs. Regulations around net metering are still evolving, and policies differ
across regions. Initially, net-zero buildings sometimes relied on fossil fuels,
compensated by surplus solar energy. But contemporary net-zero designs focus
on eliminating fossil fuel use entirely, requiring all-electric systems. This aligns
with goals of decarbonization and energy conservation, often achieved through
heat pumps for heating and cooling.
ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE & MANAGEMENT

A growing trend in net-zero buildings is "resiliency," which refers to their
ability to operate independently during unexpected events like storms or
earthquakes that cause long-term power outages. To achieve this, buildings
need battery energy storage systems that allow them to function off-grid.
Companies now offer lithium-ion battery storage systems and load
management controls to support this.
Figure: A residential scale battery-based energy storage system
These systems can also benefit utilities by drawing energy from batteries
during peak demand periods, which helps avoid operating expensive natural
gas generators. Additionally, load management controls can optimize the use of
appliances by shifting their operation to off-peak times, reducing utility strain
and taking advantage of lower energy rates.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE THERMAL ENVELOPES

Modern net-zero buildings typically feature high-performance thermal
envelopes. To minimize the need for space heating and cooling, they
incorporate high R-value insulation, high-performance windows, and extensive
air-sealing techniques. This reduces the energy generation required on-site to
achieve net-zero status, lowers costs, and often provides a better return on
investment compared to installing larger solar arrays to compensate for
inefficient buildings.
Exterior sheathing provides continuous insulation to reduce heat loss through

the framing. Advanced construction methods are often used to further decrease
heat conduction, speed up construction, and lower material costs. Residential
heating loads of 10 to 15 BTU/hour per square foot are becoming standard in
new buildings or deep energy retrofits aiming for net-zero energy performance.
Additionally, many low-energy or net-zero buildings incorporate passive solar
heating when feasible. These buildings are generally oriented with their long
axis within 25 degrees of true south, with a greater number of windows on the
southern side. This orientation also optimizes energy generation from roof-
mounted solar photovoltaic arrays.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Low-energy and net-zero homes use advanced air sealing techniques to reduce
heating and cooling loads, but this can result in poor indoor air quality. To
address this, mechanical ventilation systems, such as heat recovery ventilators
(HRVs) or energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), are installed to maintain
healthy air exchange while conserving energy. HRVs recover heat from
outgoing air, while ERVs also transfer moisture, helping to maintain indoor
humidity levels. These systems use ducting to distribute preconditioned air and
can be integrated with existing forced-air systems, enhancing energy efficiency
and comfort.
Figure: An example of an HRV
CONSIDER EMBEDDED CARBON

Considering the impact of each element used in a project is also essential to
reach the net-zero goal. The carbon embodied in each material refers to the sum
of greenhouse gas emissions during extraction, transport, fabrication and
installation. While, for example, concrete is a material that emits a huge
amount of carbon during its manufacturing - especially in the case of cement -
the use of wood in a project reduces the carbon incorporated in the building,
since the material absorbs carbon while the tree grows. Glass, on the other
hand, even though it consumes large amounts of carbon during manufacturing,
has a high degree of recyclability, which should also be considered in the
equation. Assessing the embodied carbon of an entire building requires access
to carbon emissions data for all materials and processes involved in a building
throughout its lifecycle.
A standardized method used to quantify the environmental impacts of
buildings, from material extraction and product manufacturing to use, end of
life and disposal is the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Through
this analysis, it is possible to total the environmental impact of a product's
supply chain. The results are presented in the form of an Environmental
Product Declarations (EPD), which are increasingly common for manufacturers
to take into consideration for their products, in order to meet a growing market
demand for quantified environmental information.
Sources:
https://idronics.caleffi.com/article/2-characteristics-net-zero-building
https://www.novatr.com/blog/what-are-net-zero-buildings
https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/towards-a-new-low-carbon-architecture-
net-zero-simon-sturgis

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PREFACE

CHARACTERISTICS OF NET ZERO CARBON BUILDING

However, utility companies vary in their approach to net metering—some offer

ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE & MANAGEMENT

Figure: A residential scale battery-based energy storage system

HIGH-PERFORMANCE THERMAL ENVELOPES

Exterior sheathing provides continuous insulation to reduce heat loss through

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Figure: An example of an HRV

CONSIDER EMBEDDED CARBON

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