Have you ever wondered about the nitty-gritty details of net zero and how it impacts your business? Well, you're in the right place — this is at the top of our minds at Emerald Built Environments. 

Energy use and a long-term goal of achieving net zero are pivotal components of any strong sustainability strategy. The drive towards net zero helps the environment and enhances overall business success by improving efficiency and reducing costs.  

However, this process can be convoluted for many building owners and developers. To help you on this journey, we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from business and building owners interested in improving energy efficiency and working towards net zero.  

Question 1: What is the Difference Between Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon? 

Answer: Net zero energy and net zero carbon may sound similar but they have a few crucial differences. Understanding the distinction between the two is necessary for effective sustainability planning.  

Net zero energy refers to buildings or facilities that produce as much renewable energy as they consume over a year. On the other hand, net zero carbon looks beyond just energy and includes carbon emissions from all of the building's operations. This includes Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, which range from energy use to transportation to waste generation. 

Ultimately, both concepts aim to reduce buildings' environmental impact, but they approach the goal from different angles. Net zero energy focuses on balancing energy consumption and generation, while net zero carbon focuses on reducing and offsetting carbon emissions and extends beyond simply energy use.  

Often, a crucial part of either goal is using renewable energy credits (RECs). RECs certify that purchased energy is produced renewably, which makes it a helpful tool when onsite renewable energy generation doesn't meet total energy demand. However, RECs are not a long-term solution — they fail to address the root issue of fossil fuel energy use. Furthermore, companies relying solely on RECs may face increased energy pricing as their demand for RECs grows - as businesses grow, so too do their emissions if not carefully managed.  

Effective sustainability strategies prioritize energy efficiency and conservation, followed by RECs for any remaining emissions​. RECs are a stop-gap in a larger sustainability strategy to be used as onsite renewable energy capacity grows.  

Question 2: How Does Energy Modeling Play into Net Zero Planning? 

Answer: Early energy modeling provides significant advantages during the design phase of a new construction or major renovation project. Project teams use energy modeling as a design tool to evaluate strategies that respond to the project’s sustainable design guidelines. Energy modeling leads to more informed choices that help identify potential energy savings, improve building performance, and ensure compliance with sustainability goals. Waiting to do energy modeling until the building is already designed, under construction, or built limits the areas where energy efficiency improvements can be added. 

For example, early energy modeling can help balance investments between building facades, the size of HVAC systems, or the type of HVAC system, such as a heat pump. An improved facade might reduce heating and cooling loads, allowing for a less expensive HVAC system. Conversely, a more robust HVAC system may be required if the facade is less efficient. Energy models can simulate these scenarios, providing data-driven insights for better decision-making.  

Question 3: Does Building Code Require Net Zero Energy? 

Answer: Increasingly, building codes across the country are being tightened, with some jurisdictions requiring projects to provide documentation that they achieved a higher-performance building. Sometimes, codes set requirements higher in one municipality vs. the state’s building code, and at other times, a jurisdiction may offer an incentive if a project demonstrates it is more efficient — or achieves a sustainable building certification.

Understanding the rationale behind different energy codes or requirements for certification is essential. Certifications often use stringent criteria to push the industry towards higher sustainability standards. While local codes ensure baseline compliance, certifications encourage best practices in energy efficiency. The best path forward is to meet or exceed both requirements where possible, ensuring compliance and achieving higher sustainability goals.

Working with trained sustainability professionals, like Emerald Built Environments, is a great way to navigate this path. We stay up to date on changes to local codes and certification standards. Plus, if we aren't familiar with an update, we know where to look, how to analyze it, and how to provide the necessary path forward.

Question 4: What is Commissioning, and how does it contribute to Net Zero? 

Answer: Commissioning is a quality assurance process that ensures building systems are designed, installed, and operate as intended. It's often completed by the only set of professionals involved throughout the entire building design process through the final handover. It involves verifying that all systems function efficiently and meet the owner's project requirements.

This is particularly important for sustainable buildings that aim to achieve specific efficiency milestones or are working to achieve green building certifications. These standards often require ongoing monitoring to prove the building meets sustainability criteria. Failure in the design or construction phase can be catastrophic and an expensive fix down the line to upgrade systems to meet the necessary standards.

As a risk mitigation strategy, commissioning finds simple installation errors such as incorrect settings, parts of systems that were not turned on or balanced, or even wrong equipment installation. Commissioning often pays for itself because it finds problems in drawings before they are built, or before buildings are turned on — preventing possible issues. Enhanced Commissioning includes additional verification within a year of installation, adding an extra layer of protection for projects that pursue it.

Following up on the previous question, some states now require commissioning as part of the building code.

Question 5: Why Are Existing Building Services like Facility Assessments and Energy Audits Important? 

Answer: Just like we do, buildings benefit from regular “checkups”. Because buildings change over time, they need regulator maintenance. The three top services for existing buildings — even relatively new buildings — include energy audits, facility assessments, and retro-commissioning.

Sustainable facility maintenance plans ensure buildings are maintained efficiently and with the building's sustainability design criteria in mind. For example, outdoor air systems need regular maintenance. Plus, building use or design changes may alter airflow and reduce HVAC system efficiency. Regularly rebalancing these systems ensures they operate based on the current conditions and can identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement, leading to better indoor air quality and energy savings.

Energy audits are also a great preventative measure. They can help locate where changes in the building are impacting energy efficiency and where to make cost-effective upgrades to improve efficiency.

Emerald Is Your Partner in Improving Efficiency and Achieving Net Zero 

If Net Zero is a target goal, we can help you. They play a role throughout a building's lifecycle and ensure buildings continue functioning as intended and improve over time. Ultimately, this leads to more efficient building design, lower operating costs, and happier tenants.

Emerald Built Environments is here to assist you in every step of your sustainability journey. Learn how we can be your partner in achieving net zero or if you need more insights and guidance.