Exciting news from the Department of Energy (DOE) on defining high performance buildings!
On Thursday, June 6th, DOE announced the publication of a national definition for a zero emissions building. The definition, which focuses on operational emissions, states that at a minimum, a zero emissions building must be:
- Energy efficient
- Free of onsite emissions, and
- Powered solely by clean energy
Greater detail on how to meet these criteria is provided in the Implementation Guidance section of DOE’s official Definition document.
Despite not being a regulatory requirement or official standard, this definition will serve as a benchmark for the market and policymakers. Several major green building certification programs announced plans to reference the zero emissions definition in their certifications. There is also potential for institutions offering green financing products to incorporate the definition into their performance goals. Lastly, local municipalities, states, regional consortiums, and federal agencies can cite the definition in their building performance policies.
The DOE is already planning future updates to the definition with a focus on including rules around embodied carbon.