Buildings are the foundation of our communities, but their emissions are also driving the climate crisis.

The building sector contributes nearly 40% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, representing a significant challenge in the race against climate change. This highlights that if we can achieve net-zero in buildings, then it could change the world.

Global decarbonization trajectories indicate that the industry needs to reduce these emissions by 50% by 2030 if it is to reach net zero by mid-century and achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. Now is the time for organizations within the building and construction sector to take action to decarbonize the built environment, inspire others to do the same, and remove barriers to implementation.

Yes, it is possible, and new guidance has been published to help businesses achieve this goal.

What is a Net Zero Building?

To continue to thrive, society needs net zero buildings.

A net zero building is simply a building that has no net carbon emissions during its construction and operation. Emissions are reduced and what's leftover is balanced by renewable energy or carbon offsets.

This means not only designing and constructing new net zero buildings but rethinking retrofitting to prepare our existing buildings for a low-carbon future. These are the challenges our standards can help developers, contractors, architects, and local governments tackle today.

According to a report by the World Green Building Council, net zero buildings not only help in the fight against climate change, but can create jobs, improve energy security, and lower energy costs.

To learn more about the role of standards in retrofitting buildings, click here.

PD ISO/TS 23764:2021: New Guidance Published for Businesses

PD ISO/TS 23764:2021 Methodology for achieving non-residential zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) outlines a step-by-step approach that organizations can follow to reduce the energy consumption of buildings they occupy and counter it with renewable sources.

The technical specification considers elements such as heating, cooling, hot water, lighting, elevators, the use of renewable energy, energy management, and more.

Dr Toshihiro Nonaka, Convenor of the group of experts that developed the guidance, said that, post-COP26, more and more leaders and organizations are looking for solutions to the climate challenge.

“The building sector represents a huge opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and meet the world’s many climate change targets such as the Paris Agreement,” he said. “ISO/TS 23764 will not only help organizations reduce their carbon emissions, but it will also support the market for new products and technologies that facilitate this and attract investment in this area.”

PD ISO/TS 23764:2021 aims to accelerate the ZEB movement, proposing a practical approach for organizations to follow which outlines the basic considerations during the complete process of ZEB realization, from design to the operation and maintenance stages.

It seeks to reduce the energy consumption of a building and promote renewable energy to achieve the net zero goal.

That said, PD ISO/TS 23764:2021 recognizes that high investment is a limiting factor to achieving net zero so this standard is just the beginning. It is a temporary measure to promote the design and construction of more energy-efficient buildings, rather than a long-term solution for greenhouse gas reduction.

It also contributes to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy, Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and Goal 13 on climate action.

As the pressure builds for construction businesses to achieve net zero, knowing which standards can help you and how to share their guidance within your organization can seem like a huge challenge. With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need in order to start your journey to net zero with confidence. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to one of our pre-built modules, such as GBM06 Environment, Wastes, and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.

It is time for every organization to prioritize reaching net zero targets. To ensure your business reduces the energy consumption of its buildings, buy PD ISO/TS 23764:2021 today.