Overview

Energy use in buildings worldwide accounts for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions . Energy use and emissions include both direct, on-site use of fossil fuels as well as indirect use from electricity, district heating/cooling systems and embodied energy in construction materials.

Given the global challenges related to climate change and resource shortages, much more is required than incremental increases in energy efficiency. Currently, a prominent vision proposes so called "net zero energy", "zero net energy", "net zero carbon" "net zero energy buildings NZEB", or "EQuilibrium" buildings. Although these terms have different meaning and are poorly understood, several IEA countries have adopted this vision as a long-term goal of their building energy policies .

What is missing is a clear definition and international agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform "zero energy" building policies, programs and industry adoption.

• ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY - Net Zero Energy Buildings: International Projects of Carbon Neutrality in Buildings -- Preview of Book  (doesn't appear to work in IE 9)
  October 2011
       Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings Fact Sheet 
       SHC Version - June 2010  
       Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings Fact Sheet 
       ECBCS Version - 2010
   
• ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY - Modelling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings
  Building energy design is currently going through a period of major changes. One key factor of this is the adoption of net-zero energy as a long term goal for new buildings in most developed countries.
  March 2015
   
• ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY - Solution Sets for Net-Zero Energy Buildings
  Initiated by the International Energy Agency, this book presents a unique study of 30 Net Zero Energy Buildings in practice. It identifies solution sets for building design in most climates and for various building types to achieve a far greater performance benefit than normal.
  April 2017