International. The World Green Building Council launched its Advanced Net Zero project in 2016, with the goal of eliminating carbon emissions from all new buildings by 2030 and from all buildings by 2050. Now, the Green Building Council of Canada has introduced the first national standard of that campaign, a certification program focused solely on carbon neutrality.
Removing all emissions from buildings "is a very ambitious goal," said Mark Hutchinson, vice president of Green Building Programs at the Green Building Council of Canada, "but it's simply a recognition of what's going to be needed."
Certification requires project teams to:
- Evaluate the type of energy your project will use and the carbon associated with generating that energy;
- Reduce thermal energy demand by meeting ventilation and envelope efficiency targets;
- Offset carbon emissions from building operations by generating renewable energy, both on-site and off-site; and lately,
- Achieve net zero carbon emissions.
The standard also requires designers to report on the building's anticipated maximum energy demand. There is no specific target, but if peak demand is considered, the designer will better understand the carbon-intensive energy sources that can be used during periods of peak demand.
Similarly, the standard also requires the assessment of embodied carbon from structural and envelope materials, but does not require low-carbon materials to be chosen. "Just by performing that exercise is there a significant advantage in advancing the industry," Hutchinson said.
New buildings can earn a design certification that requires them to generate 5% of their energy from renewable energy on site and achieve targets designed to reduce heat loss from the building envelope and ventilation.
Existing buildings can obtain a performance certification. It is based on twelve months of operations, with performance verified each year.
New buildings that have obtained design certification can, after one year of operation, apply for double certification in design and performance.
In addition to Canada, nine other green building councils have also committed to developing a carbon-neutral building standard. Australia is expected to publish its next one. That standard is being developed jointly by the government and Australia's Green Building Council.
Source: https://www.buildinggreen.com
