The Biden administration on Thursday offered up a definition for what is considered a zero-emission building, as part of an effort to reduce building emissions around the country.
The new definition is completely voluntary — but seeks to help industry figure out how to move toward cutting the structures’ contributions to climate change.
It is the first definition of its kind from the U.S. government and was developed with heavy input from the Real Estate Industry (ZEB Definition | Press Release).
This is particularly important for commercial buildings as many seek to reduce energy consumption, lower energy costs, qualify for incentives, drive innovation and contribute to growing consumer demand.
ZEB Criteria
Three criteria define a ZEB asset under the new definition from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). To meet the guideline, a building must be:
- Highly energy efficient, such as having an ENERGY STAR score of “75” or higher;
- Free of on-site emissions from energy use, with an exception for emergency backup power generation; and
- Powered solely from clean energy, which can be achieved through on-site renewable energy measures or the purchase of verified renewable energy certificates that increase off-site supplies of clean power.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said, “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.” (Press Release)
The rules, called a “National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building,” are not regulations, nor do they influence whether companies receive tax credits or grants linked to the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, according to the department.
They will, however, determine which buildings the federal government leases after 2030 — as long as a 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden stays intact. That executive order vowed to “transform [the federal government’s] portfolio of 300,000 buildings, fleet of 600,000 cars and trucks, and annual purchasing power of $650 billion in goods and services.”
Cities are currently working on programs to help building owners engage with these new regulations.
City of Milwaukee Resource: Net-Zero Energy Housing (milwaukee.gov)
City of Madison Resource: Energy | Sustainability & Resilience | City of Madison, WI
More information HERE: National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building | Department of Energy