The Advancing Net Zero project, which backs the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) long-term target of ensuring that all buildings are net zero carbon emissions by 2050, has three new sponsors that are contributing to this goal.
Integral Group, Lendlease and ROCKWOOL joined the international project, which was launched in June 2016. Advance Net Zero calls upon national Green Building Councils to introduce or adopt net zero certification schemes.
“Our Advancing Net Zero project continues to grow and expand its international impact day by day,” says Terri Wills, CEO of WorldGBC. “The support of major companies such as Integral Group, Lendlease and ROCKWOOL demonstrates the huge appetite amongst businesses to design, build, invest in and operate net zero buildings. We’ve started to pave the path towards net zero, and there’s no turning back until every building gets there before 2050.”
Achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050 means the building sector will need to deliver on the Paris Agreement. In Paris, WorldGBC committed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from buildings by 84 gigatons by 2050, which is what the International Energy Agency claims is needed to keep global temperature rises within 2 degrees C.
Net Zero Efforts
Integral Group, a global green engineering firm, has designed more than 65 net zero energy projects, many of which have been independently certified as net zero through metered verification. It has been able to provide net zero capabilities in a variety of building types, including new build or retrofit offices and laboratories at campus and city scales.
Lendlease intends to improve livability in cities by lowering emissions in the built environment. Low emission ventures in the UK and Australia are part of its portfolio of projects intended to curb the rise in global temperatures.
ROCKWOOL, an insulation manufacturer, improved its thermal technology to enable greater control of temperatures in facilities. The ROCKWOOL group contributed to the Cornell Tech High Rise in New York, which consumes 60-70% less energy than a conventional high rise.
“The energy savings opportunity in the building sector is immense, it is profitable and the required technologies are already in place. There is a major opportunity in the existing building stock,” says Mirella Vitale, SVP Group Marketing Communications & Public Affairs at ROCKWOOL Group. ”With an increased focus on renovation, we could reduce energy demand from existing buildings between 50 and 80% and drive efforts to accelerate the transition to net zero buildings while protecting our resources and significantly reducing CO2 emissions.”
In spring 2017, WorldGBC will publish a report highlighting how businesses, governments and NGOs (including Green Building Councils) are achieving 100% net zero buildings by 2050.
