National and international drivers are promoting the achievement of Net Zero Carbon (NZC) emissions from the built environment. In late 2022, the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) launched the Roadmap to decarbonise Ireland’s Built Environment, based on the proposed target that all new buildings should achieve NZC performance by 2030, and that all existing building stock should achieve NZC performance by 2050. However, there is currently no official national definition for NZC performance.
Below are the NZC definitions proposed by the IGBC as guidance for IGBC members and the broader Irish construction industry who wish to voluntarily demonstrate NZC performance, which were developed with input from IGBC member workshops and public consultation.
Net Zero Carbon Operational Energy:
A ‘Net Zero Carbon Operational Energy’ building does not exceed local targets for operational energy use intensity and utilises renewable energy sources for all building energy use; such that the annual Global Warming Potential for operational energy of the in-use building life cycle stage (B6) is less than or equal to zero.
Net Zero Whole Life Carbon:
A ‘Net Zero Whole Life Carbon’ building does not exceed local targets for operational energy use or embodied carbon; such that the sum total Global Warming Potential for all cradle to grave life cycle stages are less than or equal to zero, where residual carbon is compensated for via renewable energy sources, or as a last resort carbon offsetting.
The definitions are purposefully kept as concise as possible, however, understanding of several key terms is required; these terms are underlined within the definitions and further clarified in the full document.
In addition to these definitions, the IGBC is currently leading projects that aim to establish assessment and reporting requirements to determine and demonstrate NZC performance.
