On its face, the concept of a zero-emissions building is straightforward. It’s a building that produces zero emissions. Right?
Well, yes, technically. But how it does so is less than clear, according to the Biden Administration. “There has been quite a lot of confusion in the market around the transition to zero-emissions buildings,” says Heather T. Clark, director of building emissions at the White House’s Climate Policy Office. “Many people were using terms like net zero, zero carbon, and other terms in a way that was very inconsistent and confusing.”
To bring some consistency and clarity, the White House and the Department of Energy are creating an official definition of what it means to be a zero-emissions building, what it takes to get there, and how that status can be proven. A draft definition was released late last year, and public comment is being sought until February 5.
“The Biden-Harris administration has set a goal to make zero emissions, resilient new construction and retrofits common practice by 2030,” says Clark, who notes the fact that the operation of buildings accounts for an estimated 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. “The definition will serve as a very clear market signal to help transition the building sector.”
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