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Dozens of construction, engineering and contracting firms have signed on to a Biden administration proposal that would create a single definition of zero-emission buildings. Among the 69 signatories are sustainability professionals from David Baker Architects, DIALOG, FXCollaborative, Goody Clancy, Handel Architects, HKS, Lake|Flato Architects, LMN Architects, NBBJ, SOM, ZGF Architects and others. The full list of signatories can be read here.
A statement from the coalition supporting the definition outlines the benefits of defining and setting measurable parameters for what it means to design, construct and operate zero-emission buildings.
“A consistent definition will allow the industry to coalesce around a vision for a zero-emission built environment, enabling more consistent policies, incentives, certification targets and aspirational project targets to accelerate the fundamental shift to clean energy. This is relevant to buildings industry’s climate action goals are highly aligned,” the statement read.
According to the draft, the definition would be developed and applied to “existing buildings and new construction that are not federally owned buildings.” It does not apply to federally owned buildings, which are subject to other guidance related to energy efficiency and use.
The draft provides an outline detailing the parameters for a zero-emission building, which includes being highly energy efficient, producing no on-site emissions from energy use and being powered only by clean energy.
It also recommends that buildings must have zero greenhouse gas emissions and that all of the building’s energy come from carbon-free outlets on or off-site. It added that the definition also applies to “whole building operational emissions”; this includes those from tenants.
A coalition of built environment professionals, spearheaded by OPAL’s Timothy Lock, Goody Clancy’s Jean Carroon, Long Green Specs’ Anne Hicks Harney, and Brockman’s Clark Brockman, has come up with a formal definition of this often-used but actually quite vague term . Climate Strategy, Luke Leung of SOM, Kjell Anderson of LMN, and Chris Hellstern of The Miller Hull Partnership.
“The federal definition of zero-emission buildings provides significant benefits to the communities served by the architecture, engineering, construction and real estate industries and supports emissions reductions in our industry,” the coalition added in a release. “A A unified definition that can be verified through federal agencies will unlock more public and private investment in emissions-reducing, efficient and resilient buildings across all types of real estate.”
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