Pledges by governments and multinational corporations to make buildings net-zero carbon are critical to carbon reduction goals. And, commitments have been adding up in recent years.
The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has gained notable adherents to its Advancing Net Zero buildings initiative. This project aims to have every building produce net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In fact, some 62 businesses, 28 cities, and six states have signed on to be WGBC’s leaders in this initiative by committing to make all their buildings net-zero carbon-emitting by 2030 or sooner. California, with 16 million buildings, has signed onto the commitment, along with businesses such as design firm Atelier Ten, healthcare real estate investment trust Assura, and retail center developer Wereldhave.
There are 1 billion buildings in the world, and the total global building footprint is expected to double by 2060. It’s hard to know how many buildings are operating today at net-zero because of the difficulty in tracking the amount of renewable energy supplied by the grid. WGBC is working on this problem.
When companies such as Salesforce commit to constructing all new buildings to net-zero specifications, including a new tower in Dublin, they accelerate the effort. WGBC will allow any credible third party, such as LEED, to do the certification.
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2014
New LEED online platform now available for LEED v4 projects
LEED v4 projects will be the first to experience the new LEED Online platform with streamlined documentation and processes.
| Jan 26, 2014
New York extends, enhances tax abatements to promote green roofs
The expansion of a tax-abatement program for green roofs under New York state law doubles the previous maximum benefit of $100,000, adds new plant species to the list of those applicable for the tax break.
| Jan 23, 2014
Washington state micro apartment law prompts fire safety concerns
Proposed legislation to further regulate the building of micro apartments has triggered appeals from community activists concerned that fire safety standards are sub-par.
| Jan 23, 2014
Pennsylvania owes school districts $1B for construction projects
The Pennsylvania Department of Education owes about $1 billion to numerous school districts for about 350 state-approved renovation and construction projects.
| Jan 23, 2014
About 1,500 concrete buildings in Los Angeles found vulnerable to earthquakes
Some 1,500 concrete structures built in Los Angeles before 1980 could be vulnerable to earthquakes, according to University of California researchers.
| Jan 23, 2014
Low-slope roofs with PVs tested for wind uplift resistance
Tests showed winds can cause photovoltaic panels to destroy waterproof membranes.
| Jan 16, 2014
Bio-based materials could transform the future of sustainable building
Recent winners of the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge include a brick made from bacterial byproducts and insulation created from agricultural waste products.
| Jan 16, 2014
The incandescent light bulb is not dead
Despite misleading media reports, January 1 did not mark a ban on the manufacture or import of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs.
| Jan 16, 2014
ASHRAE revised climatic data for building design standards
ASHRAE Standard 169, Climatic Data for Building Design Standards, now includes climatic data for 5,564 locations throughout the world.
| Jan 15, 2014
ConsensusDocs releases updated subcontract for federal work
The new version addresses recent changes in federal contracting.
