The U.S. Department of Energy has released a new national definition of a zero emissions building.
The definition is intended to provide industry guidance to support new and existing commercial and residential buildings to move towards zero emissions across the entire building sector, DOE says. “The definition provides market certainty and clarity to scale zero emissions new construction and retrofits,” according to a DOE statement.
By the definition, at a minimum, a zero emissions building must be energy efficient, free of onsite emissions from energy use, and powered solely from clean energy. In the future, the definition may address emissions from embodied carbon (producing, transporting, installing, and disposing of building materials) and additional considerations.
The definition is not a regulatory standard or a certification. It is intended to provide guidance that public and private entities may adopt to determine whether a building has zero emissions from operational energy use. “It is not a substitute for the green building and energy efficiency standards and certifications that public and private parties have developed,” DOE says.
Related Stories
| Aug 3, 2016
Top 90 Green Building Construction Firms
Turner Construction Co., Clark Group, and Hensel Phelps top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest green building sector construction and construction management firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 1, 2016
K-12 SCHOOL GIANTS: In a new era of K-12 education, flexibility is crucial to design
Space flexibility is critical to classroom design. Spaces have to be adaptable, even allowing for drastic changes such as a doubling of classroom size.
| Aug 1, 2016
Top 80 K-12 School Construction Firms
Gilbane, Balfour Beatty, and Core Construction head Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest K-12 school sector construction and construction management firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Jul 29, 2016
AIRPORT FACILITIES GIANTS: Airports binge on construction during busy year for travel
Terminal construction will grow by nearly $1 billion this year, and it will keep increasing. Airports are expanding and modernizing their facilities to keep passengers moving.
| Jul 29, 2016
Top 45 Airport Terminal Construction and CM Firms
Hensel Phelps generated more than $660 million in revenue last year to earn the top spot on BD+C’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest airport terminal construction and CM firms.
| Jul 27, 2016
Turner turns to design-build, P3, Lean practices, and engineering services
Design-build has accounted for a notable portion of Turner’s work over the last few years.
| Jul 27, 2016
CONSTRUCTION GIANTS: Economists forecast moderation for nonresidential projects
Construction spending is up this year and is expected to continue to increase through 2017. But, economists identified factors that could slow construction spending.
| Jul 27, 2016
Top 70 Construction Management Firms
Hill International, Jacobs, and JLL head Building Design+Construction's 2016 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
| Jul 27, 2016
Top 115 Contractor Firms
Turner Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting, Fluor, and Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2016 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 20, 2016
San Diego’s waterfront redevelopment would go beyond a mere ‘project’
Its developers envision a thriving business, education, and entertainment district, highlighted by a huge observation tower and aquarium.