Getting to Net Zero on a Budget

Increased awareness of climate change has precipitated more stringent mitigation targets. Public sector institutions in Canada are committed to becoming carbon neutral to attain a leadership position in climate change mitigation-related initiatives. Recent statistics reveal that buildings account for the majority of the corporate carbon footprint of public sector institutions. Hence, there is an increasing interest towards developing net zero energy and net zero emission buildings to comply with climate action targets. With limited financial resources, public sector institutions must optimize investments into building energy retrofits by considering lifecycle cost (LCC), overall energy performance, and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The aim of this paper is to develop an investment planning approach for net zero emission buildings (NZEB). First, an investment planning approach for NZEB is proposed. A typical recreational centre building in British Columbia, Canada, was used as the archetype to demonstrate the concept. Second, innovative and proven building energy retrofits were analysed using energy simulation software to assess the impact on energy consumption reduction, GHG emissions, and LCC. Third, impacts of geographical location, tariff regimes, and grid emission factors on energy retrofits were studied by locating the same building in other provinces of Canada. This study revealed that net zero energy investment has a strong correlation to the grid emission factor. The proposed approach in this paper will assist building managers and owners in retrofitting and budget planning.

Carbon Dioxide Removal is essential for achieving net zero emissions, as it is required to neutralize any residual CO2 emissions. The scientifically recognized definition of Carbon Dioxide Removal requires removed atmospheric CO2 to be stored “durably”; however, it remains unclear what is meant by durably, and interpretations have varied from decades to millennia. Using a reduced-complexity climate model, here we examined the effect of Carbon Dioxide Removal with varying CO2 storage durations. We found that storage duration substantially affects whether net zero emissions achieve the desired temperature outcomes. With a typical 100-year storage duration, net zero CO2 emissions with 6 GtCO2 per year residual emissions result in an additional warming of 0.8 °C by 2500 compared to permanent storage, thus putting the internationally agreed temperature limits at risk. Our findings suggest that a CO2 storage period of less than 1000 years is insufficient for neutralizing remaining fossil CO2 emissions under net zero emissions. These results reinforce the principle that credible neutralization claims using Carbon Dioxide Removal in a net zero framework require balancing emissions with removals of similar atmospheric residence time and storage reservoir, e.g., geological or biogenic.

Net zero energy is a concept of energy self-sufficiency based on minimized demand and use of local renewable energy resources. A net zero energy military installation is defined as: “A military installation that produces as much energy on-site from renewable energy generation or through the on-site use of renewable fuels, as it consumes in its buildings, facilities, and fleet vehicles.” [1] The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind strategy for evaluating a military installation’s potential to achieve net zero energy status, including an assessment of baseline energy use, energy use reduction opportunities from efficiency or behavior changes, renewable energy generation opportunities, electrical systems analysis of renewable interconnection, microgrid potential, and transportation energy savings. This paper describes NREL’s net zero energy assessment strategy and provides a planning guide for other organizations interested in evaluating net zero potential. We also present case studies and describe lessons learned from NREL’s net zero energy assessments at seven installations, including the importance of enforcing and funding mandates, providing leadership support, collecting accurate data, and selecting appropriate technologies. Finally, we evaluate whether the net zero concept is a useful framework for analyzing an energy strategy and a reasonable goal.

UK Households' Carbon Footprint: A Comparison of the Association between Household Characteristics and Emissions from Home Energy, Transport and Other Goods and Services

Role of CCS for Emission Reduction from Fertiliser and Cement Industry

1.0. INTRODUCTION In the United States, K–12 school buildings spend more than $8 billion each year on energy—more than they spend on computers and textbooks combined [1]. Most occupied older buildings demonstrate poor operational performance—for instance, more than 30 percent of schools were built before 1960, and 53 percent of public schools need to spend money on repairs, renovations, and modernization to ensure that the schools' onsite buildings are in good overall condition. And among public schools with permanent buildings, the environmental factors in the permanent buildings have been rated as unsatisfactory or very unsatisfactory in 5 to 17 percent of them [2]. Indoor environment quality (IEQ) is one of the core issues addressed in the majority of sustainable building certification and design guidelines. Children spend a significant amount of time indoors in a school environment. And poor IEA can lead to sickness and absenteeism from school and eventually cause a decrease in student performance [3]. Different building types and their IEQ characteristics can be partly attributed to building age and construction materials. [4] Improving the energy performance of school buildings could result in the direct benefit of reduced utility costs and improving the indoor quality could improve the students' learning environment. Research also suggests that aging school facilities and inefficient equipment have a detrimental effect on academic performance that can be reversed when schools are upgraded. [5] Several studies have linked better lighting, thermal comfort, and air quality to higher test scores. [6, 7, 8] Another benefit of improving the energy efficiency of education buildings is the potential increase in market value through recognition of green building practice and labeling, such as that of a LEED or net zero energy building. In addition, because of their educational function, high-performance or energy-efficient buildings are particularly valuable for institution clients and local government. More and more high-performance buildings, net zero energy buildings, and positive energy buildings serve as living laboratories for educational purposes. Currently, educational/institutional buildings represent the largest portion of NZE (net zero energy) projects. Educational buildings comprise 36 percent of net zero buildings according to a 2014 National New Building Institute report. Of the 58 net zero energy educational buildings, 32 are used for kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12), 21 for higher education, and 5 for general education. [9] Finally, because educational buildings account for the third largest amount of building floor space in the United States, super energy-efficient educational buildings could provide other societal and economic benefits beyond the direct energy cost savings for three reasons: 1) educational buildings offer high visibility that can influence community members and the next generation of citizens, 2) success stories of the use of public funds that returns lower operating costs and healthier student learning environments provide documentation that can be used by others, and 3) this sector offers national and regional forums and associations to facilitate the transfer of best design and operational practices.

The present study investigates long-term energy consumption and CO2 emission pathways of the Swiss cement industry, including pathways towards net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Cement production accounts for 8% (12.8 PJ) of the final energy consumption and 36% (2.5 Mt) of the CO2 emissions in the Swiss industrial sector in 2015. Using a techno-economic bottom-up optimization model based on the TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) modeling framework, this study applies an advanced modeling technique for the Swiss TIMES Energy system Model (STEM) that expands the modeling of energy flows with additional material and product flow modeling. This allows a more detailed technology representation as well as to account for process related emissions in the cement sector. This modeling framework is applied for a scenario analysis focusing on energy efficiency as well as decarbonization, which ultimately contributes to an improved understanding of energy technology development and identifies policy strategies for the realization of a decarbonized cement industry. The results show that, in accordance with current trends, future cement production reduces its specific energy consumption from 3.0 GJ/tcement in 2015 to 2.3 GJ/tcement in 2050. Simultaneously, cement production decreases its CO2 emission intensity from 579 kgCO2/tcement in 2015 to 466 kgCO2/tcement in 2050 due to the decreasing average clinker content in cement and energy efficiency improvements. Even without major climate policy intervention in the future, it is economically beneficial to replace and improve the existing equipment with more energy efficient technologies. However, our results show that for a drastic reduction of the CO2 emissions in order to comply with the goals of the Paris Agreement, the cement sectors relies on CO2 capture because of the process related emissions. The results show that a minimum CO2 tax of 70 EUR/tCO2 is required for the CO2 capture technologies to become economically competitive.

The net zero emissions policy represents a crucial component of the global initiative to address climate change. The European Union has set a target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This study assesses Poland’s feasibility of achieving net zero emissions. Currently, Poland relies on fossil fuels for approximately 71% of its electricity generation, with electricity accounting for only approximately 16% of the country’s total final energy consumption. Accordingly, the transition to net zero carbon emissions will necessitate significant modifications to the energy system, particularly in the industrial, transport, and heating sectors. As this is a long-term process, this article demonstrates how the development of renewable energy sources will progressively necessitate the utilisation of electrolysers in line with the ongoing industrial transformation. A new framework for the energy system up to 2060 is presented, with transition phases in 2030, 2040, and 2050. This study demonstrates that it is feasible to attain a sustainable, zero-emission, and stable energy system despite reliance on uncontrolled and weather-dependent energy sources. Preparing the electricity grid to transmit almost three times the current amount represents a significant challenge. The resulting simulation capacities, comprising 64 GW of onshore wind, 33 GW of offshore wind, 136 GW of photovoltaic, 10 GW of nuclear, and 22 GW of electrolysers, enable a positive net energy balance to be achieved under the weather conditions observed between 2015 and 2023. To guarantee system stability, electrolysers must operate within a centralised framework, functioning as centrally controlled dispatchable load units.

Net zero energy is a topic that is trending in the construction industry. A part of the net zero movement garnering the most attention is K-12 public school construction. Alachua County's Meadowbrook Elementary School (K-5) is a high performance school which can achieve net zero energy status with some proven and effective practices. In this paper, we discuss and compare the current baseline energy usage of the school since its completion and target opportunities to reduce energy usage. Recommendations based on the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide (50% Energy Savings) with the help of energy modelling and simulation would close the gap needed to make Florida schools energy self-sufficient. Further renewable energy production will be added by taking advantage of the Florida climate zone. The suggestions reviewed and applied in this paper will establish guidelines for prospective net zero energy schools in general and the Florida based schools in particular.

Solar Decathlon Europe – A review on the energy engineering of experimental solar powered houses

Buildings in Canada account for a significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net zero energy building technology has been identified as part of the solution. This study presents a conceptual model identifying barriers to the adoption of net zero energy housing and tests it by administering a survey to 271 participants in a net zero energy housing demonstration project in Toronto, Canada. Using multivariate correlation and multi-linear regression analyses this study finds that of all the innovation adoption variables it was the construction and design quality that was the most significant contributor to the adoption of a net zero energy home by a potential home owner. This study found that the (a) extra cost compared to a conventional home, b) lack of knowledge about the technology associated with a net zero energy home or (c) not knowing someone who owned a net zero energy home were not significant barriers to accepting net zero energy homes. Our results suggest that policy-makers should promote the diffusion of net zero energy home technology by encouraging housing developers to include net zero energy homes in their collection of model homes, with an emphasis on quality design and construction. Furthermore, engaging in trust building initiatives such as education and knowledge about the technology, its related energy cost savings, and the environmental benefits would contribute to a greater acceptance of net zero energy homes.

Net Zero Energy Buildings: A Case study of Passive Energy Strategies on Jacobs House The objective of this thesis is to investigate ways of making NetZero Energy Buildings affordable utilizing key passive strategies. The thesis began with literature review, history of net zero, and a study of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian concept. A case study was conducted to examine Jacobs house, a Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This included a critical analysis of five passive strategies namely, orientation, massing, insulation, ventilation and natural lighting. This thesis proves that the passive ideas behind net zero energy are not new. The Jacobs house is a “showcase” on how to approach the research of net zero house using passive strategies and addresses affordability. Jacobs house demonstrates active political, social and economic project just as net zero project.Keywords:Net Zero Energy Building; Usonian house; Passive strategies; sustainability; organic architecture.

This book provides useful insight into how academics from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, such as science, engineering, technology, social science, policy, design, architecture, built environment, business, and management, have been conducting research into how to realise net zero emissions to address climate change. This book explores the ways in which countries around the world have pledged to achieve net zero emissions through decarbonisation processes. It presents the highest calibre research and impact activities carried out in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Such activities include conceptualisation, opportunity identification, specific case studies, demonstration of proof of concepts, provision of evidence, education of the general public, and knowledge transfer to companies. Further to this, the chapters also bring to light personal career journeys to net zero by current and future international research leaders. From this book, readers will gain a full understanding of net zero research via multiple disciplinary pathways, be inspired by personal accounts, and will learn key methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. The diversity of authors and topics make the book widely applicable to a range of fields, and it will be of great interest to researchers, students, practitioners, and decision makers working towards the goals of net zero and decarbonisation.

National energy system models play a crucial role in climate policy. However, they often overlook environmental impacts beyond territorial greenhouse gas emissions. Here we evaluate a territorial net-zero carbon dioxide emissions energy scenario for Switzerland coupled with life cycle assessment to quantify non-domestic environmental burdens. We highlight the limitations of considering only territorial emissions. Indeed, even if domestic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to net zero by 2050, 2 to 5 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year persist abroad due to imports and energy-related infrastructure. These extra-territorial emissions are influenced by global climate policies. Additionally, broadening the scope of environmental indicators is crucial as more countries pursue net-zero goals. Our findings highlight trade-offs, showing how environmental impacts other than those on climate change (ecosystem impacts, air pollution, natural resource use) could increase and shift beyond Switzerland as the country electrifies its economy.

CO2 emissions caused by household consumption have become one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Studying household CO2 emissions (HCEs) is of great significance to energy conservation and emissions reduction. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed the direct and indirect CO2 emissions by urban and rural households in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing. The results show that urban total HCEs are larger than rural total HCEs for the four megacities. Urban total per capita household CO2 emissions (PHCEs) are larger than rural total PHCEs in Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing, while rural total PHCEs in Shanghai are larger than urban total PHCEs. Electricity and hot water production and supply was the largest contributor of indirect HCEs for both rural and urban households. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing outsourced a large amount of indirect CO2 emissions to their neighboring provinces.