Dive Brief:
- The World Green Building Council has announced its "Advancing Net Zero" initiative, which sets the goal of 100% net-zero buildings by 2050, according to Eco-Business.
- The organization said it will organize Green Building Councils all over the world to develop net-zero certification programs for both existing and new buildings.
- A cornerstone of the WGBC net-zero program is to have all new buildings and major renovations be designed for net-zero energy use by 2030. The initiative will be spearheaded by eight Green Building Councils from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Netherlands, South Africa and Sweden.
Dive Insight
Net-zero energy performance, where the structure produces as much energy — or more — as it uses, is becoming a widely implemented global green initiative, including in the U.S.
Tesla officials announced in November that its $5 billion battery gigafactory in Nevada would be net-zero energy, powered in part by a large solar array on the roof and in the surrounding hills. The planned "tallest building in the world, the Bride of the Gulf tower in Basra, Iraq, is also being designed to meet the net-zero standard.
Aside from environmental benefits, net-zero buildings typically lead to considerably lower energy bills. Mike Humphrey of DPR Construction told Construction Dive in February that the company's San Francisco office, a net-zero-facility, went from a $3,500 electric bill in its old office to a $19 electric bill in its new net-zero building.
Net-zero has even taken off in the residential market, with the unveiling of PulteGroup's new net-zero prototype in Brentwood, CA. The homebuilder said the home is powered by onsite solar and benefits from a tightly sealed building envelope, plenty of insulation and a super-efficient HVAC system. PulteGroup officials said it will monitor the home's performance over a 12-month period to determine if it needs to make any changes to the home's design.
