The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building – ‘a building that is highly energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases directly from energy use, and is powered solely by clean energy’. This will help advance public and private sector efforts to decarbonise the building sector, which is responsible for more than one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
A standardised definition for zero-emissions buildings will help advance next-generation clean energy solutions, drive innovation, and tackle the climate crisis while supporting workforce development.
“The National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building will support the sector as it advances innovative solutions essential to creating resilient communities and high-quality jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With today’s announcement, DOE is helping bring clarity to our public and private sector partners to support decarbonization efforts and drive investment—paving the way for the cutting-edge clean energy technologies we need to make America’s buildings more comfortable and affordable.”
There are nearly 130 million existing buildings in the United States, which collectively cost over $400 billion a year to heat, cool, light, and power, with 40 million new homes and 60 billion square feet of commercial floorspace expected to be constructed between now and 2050. One in four American households—and 50% of low-income households—struggle to pay their energy bills. Establishing a consistent definition for a zero-emissions building will accelerate climate progress while lowering home and business energy bills. Additionally, the zero-emissions definition provides market certainty and clarity to scale zero-emissions new construction and retrofits. Earlier this year, DOE laid out a blueprint to reduce U.S. building emissions by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.
The DOE also announced eight major green building certification programmes that will embed or align or exceed the zero emissions definition within their certification. Many certifications go even further to demonstrate climate leadership by exceeding the criteria of the definition.