Net-zero buildings can become the norm – new report shows how to take action

The built environment sector is responsible for 37% of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide, more than the entire transportation sector, making the transition to net-zero buildings a crucial response to climate change. Authors warn that reducing these emissions is essential to reaching the cuts needed for to hold global average temperature rises well under 1.5°C in line with the Paris Accord.

The report outlines a clear 12-step Action Plan for governments and industry to successfully move the market towards delivering net-zero buildings at the scale and pace required to meet global climate targets. 

It shows how a lack of a clear, universal definition of net-zero buildings and a lack of national policies is holding back progress and constraining private sector investment in building transformation. 

The report also lays out how governments and the industry must work together to make net zero buildings the norm. It is intended for the full built environment value chain: business, national and regional policymakers, NGOs, industry bodies, the property sector, and academia.  The 12-step Action Plan is intended to apply to corporations as well as inform regional and national policy 

It calls for a fundamental shift from compliance-based regulatory frameworks— which only focus on influencing the design and construction of buildings— to performance-based standards, which aim to reduce the operational energy consumption of buildings in use, as well as their design and construction.  

Accompanying the Action Plan are 16 case studies from around the world, highlighting practical pathways for achieving net-zero emissions across various building types and sectors.   

Key recommendations for achieving net-zero buildings are: 

• Definition: Establishing a consistent understanding of what constitutes a net-zero building. 

• Transparency: Ensuring that building performance is clearly communicated, whether through voluntary disclosure or regulatory policies, to demonstrate alignment with net-zero emissions thresholds. 

• Performance floor: Implementing mandatory minimum operational energy performance requirements to drive change across the market. 

• Incentives: Aligning certifications and incentives around a consistent definition of net-zero in order to enhance the financial and market value of net-zero buildings, encouraging widespread adoption. 

By presenting an actionable blueprint for the large-scale transition to net-zero buildings, alongside real-world case studies, the report provides both a roadmap and confidence that this transition is not only possible, but already underway.