ZERO Code for New Building Construction Published by Architecture 2030

Vincent Martinez, COO  and Edward Mazria, Founder and CEO of Architecture 2030 responded to questions from AECCafe Voice about the new ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix designed to add requirements for renewable energy systems.

Architecture 2030 recently announced the publication of the ZERO Code standard for new building construction, which integrates cost-effective energy efficiency measures with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy resulting in Zero-Net-Carbon (ZNC) buildings.

ZERO Code has been developed in response to the fact that the world is currently undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in human history. According to Architecture 2030 materials, “more than half of the global population is now concentrated in urban areas, and by 2060 two thirds of the expected population of 10 billion will live in cities.

We are adding about 1.5 million people to cities every week for the foreseeable future.

These new city dwellers will need housing and services, from schools, offices, and health facilities to airports and train stations.

Reflect for a minute on the following United Nations projection:

By 2060, the world is projected to add 230 billion m² (2.5 trillion ft²) of buildings, or an area equal to the entire current global building stock*. This is the equivalent of adding an entire New York City to the planet every 34 days for the next 40 years.

*UN Environment, Global Status Report 2017

In order to achieve the target set by the Paris Agreement ­– to limit the rise in global average temperature to below the 2 degree C threshold – all new construction must be designed to high energy efficiency standards and use no CO2-emitting fossil fuel energy to operate; by 2050 the entire built environment must be carbon neutral.”

Why is the ZERO Code so important today?

While there have been worldwide improvements in building sector energy efficiency, as well as growth in renewable energy generating capacity, these have not been nearly enough to offset the increase in emissions from new construction. As a result, building sector CO2 emissions have continued to rise by nearly 1% per year since 2010.

We now have a critical window of opportunity, as well as the necessary tools needed to address this massive amount of new construction before its operating emissions are locked-in for decades to come.

How will professionals be able to plug their ZERO Code specs into their building projects?

The ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix builds on top of the 2021 IECC and adds requirements for renewable energy systems. When adopted by a jurisdiction, designers and builders can comply with the energy efficiency requirements of the IECC using any of the available compliance paths. If the designers choose to comply with the prescriptive energy efficiency requirements of Section C401.2 of the IECC, then the renewable energy requirement is determined according to the building area, type and climate zone. If the designers choose to comply with the performance approach referenced in Section C401.2 of the IECC then the renewable energy requirement is determined by the results of the energy simulations. The appendix encourages on-site renewable energy systems when feasible to meet the renewable energy requirements, but also supports off-site procurement of renewable energy through a variety of methods. Design professionals can support their clients in the selection of the on-site renewable energy systems or off-site procurement options chosen for compliance.

MEETING THE ZERO CODE RENEWABLE ENERGY APPENDIX

What are some of the ways communities can support this effort?

Voting members of the IECC can vote in favor of the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix as Submitted in the 2021 IECC approval process this fall. Additionally, communities can adopt and implement the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Standard (zero-code.org).

What are the signatory cities/states that have bought into ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix so far?

The ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix was recently introduced in mid-2018. The Oregon Building Codes Division has adopted the ZERO Code Energy Efficiency Standard (ASHRAE 90.1-2016) and will require reporting on the amount of renewable energy needed to reach zero-net-carbon as a Statewide Alternate Method. This creates a link to local jurisdictions interested in adopting the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Standard. Additionally, the City of Palo Alto determined the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Standard as cost effective in their jurisdiction and is considering its adoption.

What outreach is in place to educate and support the states/cities in this effort?

The ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix offers a flexible approach for incorporating renewable energy, both through on-site generation and/or off-site procurement.

A technical support document is available that describes several potential options for off-site procurement of renewable energy within the context of codes and presents a process for evaluating and assigning a weighting factor to each procurement method. It is anticipated that qualifying off-site renewable energy systems and their weightings will vary slightly with each adoption of the ZERO Code. The purpose of the technical support document is to provide information to enable these adaptations.

The ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix is supported by an Energy Calculator that eases the implementation process and reduces errors when applying the prescriptive compliance path. An Application Program Interface (API) for the ZERO Code Energy Calculator has been developed enabling its implementation as a website or application for smartphones and tablets. Ultimately this approach will save years and valuable resources that would otherwise be spent on developing new compliance tools and mechanisms. The ZERO Code Energy Calculator API is free and open source.

Architecture 2030 and AIA have also developed a Fact Sheet for the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix and are also developing a Compliance Guide for practitioners and code officials.

Do you need a certain number of states/cities to vote on this or can you move forward with the number you have?

Voting members of the IECC

There are potentially 100,000 voting members of the IECC, with numerous voting members from each city/state. Only about 500 members voted in the last code update cycle. If the “as submitted” ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix (no amendments) goes to a final vote in November only a simple majority (50%+) of those voting is required for inclusion into the 2021 IECC.

How will the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix be enforced and supported while we have an administration that is unsupportive of energy efficiency steps? 

The Federal Government does not have authority over individual local jurisdictions’ ability to adopt the ZERO Code Renewable Energy Appendix.

Tags: 2030 Districts, 3D, AEC, architects, architecture, Architecture 2030, CAD

Categories: 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11, AEC, AECCafe, architecture, Architecture 2030, building information modeling, virtual reality

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