Net Zero Energy - August 24, 2024

 She built one of the most energy-efficient homes in D.C. Here’s how.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/03/05/energy-efficient-net-zero-adu/
This may get you past the paywall if you’re stopped:  https://archive.is/RRil5

Modular passive house project in Brooklyn, St Felix Street Project
https://www.asåsemblyosm.com/buildings/sfx

Neighborhood built to be car-free
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/13/we-need-more-purpose-built-car-free-neighborhoods-like-culdesac-tempe/
Editorial Comment:  not necessarily net zero energy building but reducing transportation energy is a missing part of the puzzle i.e. electric vehicles alone aren’t enough

The House of Green - buildings that bring nature inside
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240420-12-stunning-buildings-that-bring-nature-inside

Final Clean Energy Rule for Federal Buildings - "phase out fossil fuel usage in new federal building construction or major renovation by achieving a 90% reduction in fossil fuel use for new projects started between fiscal years 2025 and 2029 and completely eliminating on-site fossil fuel usage in new projects beginning in 2030"
https://www.energy.gov/femp/federal-building-energy-efficiency-rules-and-requirements
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/04/24/u-s-department-of-energy-announces-final-rule-to-propel-federal-buildings-toward-zero-emissions/

"Construction company builds 3D-printed starter home in under 20 hours"
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/havelar-3d-printed-homes-portugal-affordable/

Net positive retrofit of 1945 building in Queens, NYC
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/realestate/yoåu-can-be-a-little-different-in-queens-why-this-home-is-not-like-the-others.html?u2g=i&unlocked_article_code=1.w00.gIok.rTLp9LLGewUm&smid=url-share

USA DOE now has a national definition for 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"
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/bto-national-definition-060524.pdf
hat tip cleantechnica.com

Combining waste heat and heat pumps to reduce fossil fuels in a NYC high-rise
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/this-nyc-high-rise-is-using-heat-pumps-and-waste-heat-to-cut-fossil-fuels
Editorial Comment:  Not close to zero, yet, but another step along the way for a difficult form factor

South Australia will be 100% wind/solar grid by 2027, 70% now
https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-locks-in-federal-funds-to-become-first-grid-in-world-to-reach-100-per-cent-net-wind-and-solar/

NYC has largest passive house in USAmerica, 700 units of affordable housing
https://www.senderoverdenyc.com/
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/08/15/new-york-city-is-home-to-largest-passive-house-building-in-the-us/

World’s largest 3-D printed neighborhood nears completion - not necessarily net zero but certainly solar based upon the picture
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/worlds-largest-3d-printed-neighborhood-nears-completion-texas-2024-08-08/
Editorial Comment:  I heard Professor Behrokh "Berok” Khoshnevis of USC lecture on his early work on this kind of process at MIT in 2004

Zero Net Energy - March 5, 2024

 World’s biggest “passive house” office building

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/carbon-free-buildings/boston-skyscraper-named-worlds-biggest-passive-house-office
https://cleantechnica.com/2023/10/12/winthrop-center-in-boston-named-worlds-largest-passive-house/

DOE’s “Affordable Home Energy Shot” and other housing emissions reductions initiatives of the Biden administration
https://cleantechnica.com/2023/10/21/fossil-free-100-affordable-housing-can-mean-residents-have-no-utility-bills/

Cement and carbon black as a supercapacitor and a building material
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a44716956/scientists-make-supercapacitor-out-of-cement/
hat tip Andrew Tobias

"Just over half of Europe's single family homes could technically be fully energy self-sufficient with a combination of solar energy and storage systems, according to a report by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/half-europes-family-homes-could-be-energy-self-sufficient-solar-and-storage-report
Report (in German):  https://www.kit.edu/kit/pi_2023_088_energiewende-energieautark-im-einfamilienhaus.php

Flood resistant homes from bamboo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2023/flood-resistant-home-bamboo/
Use https://archive.ph/14gDa to get past the paywall 
Editorial Comment:  this is not necessarily net zero energy building but could be and could also be adapted to the rest of the world, urban and rural

All electric sustainable skyscraper in Brooklyn
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/01/24/a-sustainable-skyscraper-grows-in-brooklyn-thanks-to-alloy/

Geos net zero energy community in Colorado
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/carbon-free-buildings/this-colorado-community-is-already-living-in-the-all-electric-future
hat tip to Jennifer Hill
Jennifer Hill also pointed me to
Kaupuni Village in Hawaii
https://g70.design/project/kaupuni-village/
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53401.pdf
Living Zenith in Utah
https://livingzenith.com/
Red Fox Crossing in Wisconsin
https://www.probuilder.com/wisconsins-first-net-zero-community
Hillside East in Vermont
https://hillsidevt.com/energy-resiliency/

Building passively cooled schools in Burkina Faso
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/29/we-dont-need-air-con-how-burkina-faso-builds-schools-that-stay-cool-in-40c-heat

Zero Net Energy - October 11, 2023

 National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering retrofits its buildings and develops a net zero urban sustainability program

https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/cde-launches-landmark-urban-sustainability-initiatives/
https://inhabitat.com/net-zero-program-at-singapore-university-leads-asia-forward/

Türkiye’s 300 year old eco-mansions
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230510-turkeys-300-year-old-eco-mansions

New Forest House - 97% less expensive to run than a home built to 2021 building standards, using 110% less energy compared to a home powered by gas
https://padstudio.co.uk/project/new-forest-national-park/
https://inhabitat.com/net-zero-new-forest-home-is-made-out-of-timber/

CABN net zero modular homes for a net zero community
https://cabn.co/
https://inhabitat.com/cabn-modular-homes-will-be-part-of-a-net-zero-community/

First zero carbon house in California, Malibu of course
https://www.marisolmalibu.com/zero1
https://inhabitat.com/the-first-home-in-california-to-be-zero-carbon-certified/

Clayton Homes is building manufactured houses that meet Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home specifications
https://inhabitat.com/these-zero-energy-ready-homes-are-solar-and-energy-efficient/
https://www.claytonhomes.com/

Houston will have a net energy positive public artwork, Arco del Tiempo, or Arch of Time, a shape made from the sun’s path
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/houston-clean-energy-artwork-arch-of-time-riccardo-mariano-2335103
hat tip Leslie Alden

Growing buildings from fungi
https://cleantechnica.com/2023/07/15/scientists-are-growing-sustainable-buildings-from-fungi-now/

Chinese sky wells
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230712-how-ancient-skywells-are-keeping-chinese-homes-cool

800-unit apartment Passive House development in Newton MA
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/02/business/how-one-housing-project-newton-may-change-way-we-think-about-building-green/
Alternative if paywalled:  https://archive.ph/Z3uqK#selection-1653.2-1653.29
Editorial Comment:  The developer listened to Green Newton, a long-time local environmental group

Building Climate Positive
https://medium.com/the-climate-action-lab-at-wally-farms
https://www.youarethecity.com/
hat tip https://www.treehugger.com/wally-farm-guesthouses-by-kaja-kuhl-7852690

A Brooklyn near zero energy renovation - from the NYTimes
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/19/realestate/sustainable-home-renovation-brooklyn.html

Zero Net Energy - April 5, 2023

 Climate positive residential development in Berlin, Germany

https://www.peter-ruge.de/project/klimapositiv-wohnen-in-berlin/language/en
https://inhabitat.com/live-in-a-climate-positive-off-grid-housing-development/

Senang residential block in Amsterdam heated and cooled with collective heat pump 
https://inhabitat.com/earth-friendly-residential-block-has-new-take-on-old-design/
http://www.m3h.nl/project/senang-transformatie-indische-buurt-amsterdam/

Net positive certified office furniture from Humanscale, certified by Living Product Challenge*
https://www.humanscale.com/blog/humanscale-wins-metropolis-planet-positive-award
https://inhabitat.com/humanscale-wows-with-26-net-positive-certified-products/
*https://living-future.org/lpc/
Editorial Comment:  Interface, the international carpet tile manufacturer, has achieved zero environmental impact after working towards it for more than 20 years and is producing a net positive carpet product:  https://solarray.blogspot.com/2022/03/interface-from-living-zero-to-climate.html

Net positive Brink Tower in Amsterdam, including aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system
https://www.mecanoo.nl/Projects/project/266
https://inhabitat.com/brink-tower-in-amsterdam-is-a-pillar-of-sustainable-design/

A sustainable city for 150,000 in Africa producing 100% of its food, water, and energy on site
https://urb.ae/projects/theparks/
https://inhabitat.com/the-parks-will-be-africas-largest-sustainable-city/

Factory-made, modular net zero-ready buildings from Vantem
https://vantem.com
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/11/25/vantem-offers-energy-efficient-factory-made-modular-dwellings/

Triple Zero – planning a decarbonized logistics facility, aiming for net zero emissions over the entire lifecycle of the building
https://nrep.com/project/triple-zero/
https://inhabitat.com/triple-zero-is-going-above-and-beyond-decarbonizing/

Largest net zero building in Boston, BU’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences uses geotheramal energy
https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/12/07/boston-university-unveils-citys-largest-net-zero-building-geothermal

Regenerative architecture - net zero complex in Yakushima, Japan which enhances the local ecology
https://www.to-no.me/works/sumu-yakushima
https://inhabitat.com/regenerative-architecture-in-japan-is-100-off-grid/

Zero net energy remodels case studies
https://zeroenergyproject.com/renovate/zero-energy-remodels-case-studies/
hat tip Ambrose Spencer

Podcast on designing net zero energy homes
https://propane.com/environment/podcast/2-17-designing-zero-net-energy-homes/?utm_campaign=p20-podcast__aud-etl__str-etl

NREL pilot program for mass energy efficiency retrofits
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-efficiency/foam-panels-can-turn-old-abodes-into-energy-efficient-homes-of-the-future

Zero Net Energy - October 20, 2022

 Becoming and remaining a net zero office building

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/opinion/energy-office-buildings-net-zero-climate.html

Distributed battery systems for utilities:
Vermont’s Green Mountain Power
https://greenmountainpower.com/news/gmp-expands-battery-options-for-customers/
California’s PG&E
https://electrek.co/2022/08/18/teslas-virtual-power-plant-first-event-helping-grid-future/
Utah’s Rocky Mountain Power (and Idaho)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/batteries/in-utah-thousands-of-homes-feed-the-grid-stored-solar-power

Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands building designed to generate more energy than it consumes
https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/13592/echo-tu-delft
https://inhabitat.com/echo-by-unstudio-generates-more-energy-than-it-uses/

Sunnova wants to build solar/battery neighborhoods that don’t connect to the grid
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/business/energy-environment/sunnova-off-grid-neighborhoods.html

5 net zero homes
https://inhabitat.com/5-sustainable-eco-homes-built-with-style/

Team Zero helps homeowners, builders, and industry professionals work towards a Zero Energy future.  
https://teamzero.org/gateway-to-zero/

Renovating a 100 year old Craftsman home to net zero
https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2022/09/14/net-zero-home-renovation-washington/

URB - Net zero community for 100,000 in United Arab Emirates
https://urb.ae
https://inhabitat.com/urban-design-of-the-worlds-largest-net-zero-community/

The Line - first development in Neom, a planned $500 billion city for an anticipated population of 9 million
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Line,_Saudi_Arabia

My Biggest Regret Building a Net Zero Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4aqEjIwBwo
hat tip to W David Stephenson

How will future climate impact the design and performance of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs)?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544221027286
hat tip to cleantechnica.com

First NYC condo certified to passive house standards
https://gbdmagazine.com/bksk-architects/
https://inhabitat.com/first-condo-in-nyc-certified-by-passive-house-institute/

Zero Net Energy - August 16, 2022

et zero energy city planned for Egypt - producing more energy AND food than it consumes
https://urb.ae/projects/nexgensustainablecity/
https://inhabitat.com/first-climate-positive-net-zero-city-in-the-world/

Hotels With Net-Zero Ambitions
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/travel/hotels-sustainability-net-zero.html

Net positive hotel being built in Denver, CO
hhttps://inhabitat.com/first-carbon-positive-hotel-in-the-us-breaks-ground/
Critique by James Kunstler: https://kunstler.com/eyesore-of-the-month/may-2022/

Net zero energy renovation at the 2022 International Builder's Show (which is actually net positive energy renovation)
https://www.rateitgreen.com/green-building-community/discussions/example-of-a-net-zero-energy-renovation-ibs-2022-home-tour-saw-horse-design/5804

Solar Exoskeletons – An integrated building system combining solar gain control with structural efficiency
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X22003930

Not solar roads but solar sidewalks, bike paths, and driveways
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/06/21/hungarian-company-introduces-improved-solar-modules-for-solar-pavement/

Net zero community center in Toronto
https://perkinswill.com/project/north-east-scarborough-community-and-child-care-centre/
https://inhabitat.com/take-a-look-at-torontos-first-net-zero-community-center/

Seattle Central College attempts “zero-carbon efficiency” in a new eco district
https://www.mckinstry.com/seattle-central-college-to-decarbonize-with-unique-ecodistrict-development/
https://inhabitat.com/seattle-college-will-become-a-ecodistrict-of-modern-tech/

Sweden’s first climate-positive district, Ljusekulla
https://www.skanska.se/en-us/about-skanska/sustainability/h22/ljusekulla/
hat tip: We Don’t Have Time https://app.wedonthavetime.org/

Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex - one of the first net zero energy complexes in LA
https://www.spfa.com/work/obama-sports-complex
https://inhabitat.com/michelle-and-barack-obama-net-zero-energy-sports-complex/

Ithaca, NY plans to decarbonize the whole city through electrification
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/electrify-ithaca-public-private-collaborative-approach-city-wide-decarbonization

VERGE 22 is the leading climate tech event accelerating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. Join thousands of leaders — from business, government, solution providers and startups — working together to address the climate crisis across six strategic areas: clean energy, sustainable transportation, carbon removal, regenerative food systems, net-zero buildings and the startup ecosystem.
https://events.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2022
OCT 25 - 27, 2022 SAN JOSE CONVENTION CENTER, SAN JOSE, CA
Cost: $50 - $1,975

Zero Net Energy - March 31, 2022

 Treehouse with "green walls, facades and rooftops, plus water features, natural light, and ventilation strategies to green the traditional office building,” winning an award from the World Green Building Council

https://www.archdaily.com/974806/ronald-lu-and-partners-competition-winning-design-re-imagines-the-workplace
https://inhabitat.com/biophilic-treehouse-imagines-a-greener-office-experience/

Decarbonization During Predevelopment of Modular Building Solutions - report on modular low-income housing
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81037.pdf
hat tip and article https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/23/net-zero-energy-blok-by-blok-lower-emissions-costs-with-net-zero-energy-modules/

McDonald’s build UK’s first “net zero” restaurant - including embodied carbon
https://www.treehugger.com/mcdonalds-net-zero-restaurant-uk-5220187

Net zero tiny home on wheels
https://www.firstlightstudio.co.nz/ohariu-tiny-home
https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/07/09/this-tiny-home-on-wheels-is-solar-powered-net-zero-solution-designed-by-an-actual-architect/
https://inhabitat.com/net-zero-tiny-home-on-wheels/

New Zealand eco-lodge accepts the Living Building Challenge and is a net positive building
https://www.campglenorchy.co.nz/about-us/sustainability
https://inhabitat.com/ecolodge-camp-glenorchy-net-positive/

Cacao Eco Village in Ecuador will be 3D printed from cacao waste, the first of a planned global network of sustainable smart villages — a carbon-neutral circular economy for the cacao industry
https://valentinogareri.com/Cacao-Eco-Village
https://inhabitat.com/3d-printing-powers-carbon-neutral-cacao-village/
https://www.dezeen.com/2022/01/17/cacao-eco-village-valentino-gareri-atelier-eco-village-3d-printed/

Solar Decathlon finalists, all 55 of them (Wentworth Institute of Technology is a finalist in 3 different categories)
https://www.solardecathlon.gov/blog/archives/5989

Net zero energy prefabricated housing modules report from NREL, Wells Fargo, and Blokable
Article:  https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2022/blok-by-blok-lower-emissions-and-costs-with-net-zero-energy-modules.html
Report:  https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81037.pdf
hat tip Martin Voelker

The Independent - Austin, TX net energy neutral 58 story tower
http://www.rhodepartners.com/projects#/the-independent/
https://inhabitat.com/solar-helps-make-austin-tower-net-energy-neutral/

Sunflower Village - 3D printed net zero community
https://valentinogareri.com/Sunflower-Village
https://inhabitat.com/3d-printing-is-behind-plans-for-futuristic-sunflower-village/

Fresco Motors proposes net positive energy campus
https://www.frescomotors.com/campus
https://inhabitat.com/fresco-motors-unveils-futuristic-energy-positive-campus/

House Zero - 3D printed net zero energy house
https://www.iconbuild.com/housezero
https://inhabitat.com/this-net-zero-house-is-full-of-possibilities-for-the-future/