The world is already feeling the consequences of climate change. Extreme weather conditions, such as droughts, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides, are becoming more frequent even in Europe. Other significant consequences of climate change include rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity. Findings show that buildings are among the largest resource consumers, accounting for 50% of all extracted materials from nature, 50% of total energy consumption, and approximately one-third of water consumption.
What is carbon neutrality?
Carbon neutrality means not emitting more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere than nature can absorb. This is achieved by reducing CO2 emissions and simultaneously enhancing natural methods, such as forests and oceans, that remove CO2 from the air. Currently, there are no artificial sinks capable of removing as much CO2 from the atmosphere as human activities emit. Carbon stored in natural sinks is released back into the atmosphere due to forest fires, excessive logging, and land-use changes. To achieve carbon neutrality, we must reduce CO2 emissions and ensure that nature can absorb the remaining CO2.
The need for sustainable construction
Lifestyles and work habits have changed, making it crucial to act now to tackle the climate crisis. This includes all sectors of the economy. The construction sector accounts for 36% of global energy consumption and 39% of CO2 emissions. Therefore, it is essential to make future buildings green, which involves changing how we design, power, and heat our homes and offices. Globally and across all industries, we are now prioritizing sustainability and sustainable development. Thinking about sustainability and sustainable construction has become part of our daily lives. Climate change is undoubtedly the biggest global challenge for sustainable development. Our challenge is to establish common standards: sustainable, green, low-carbon, and carbon-neutral.
Benefits of sustainable construction for users
Sustainable construction offers numerous benefits for users, including:
- Reduced energy costs: Energy-efficient buildings lower heating, cooling, and electricity costs.
- Improved air quality: Use of natural materials and efficient ventilation systems enhance indoor air quality.
- Comfort and health: Sustainable buildings provide a more comfortable living environment, positively impacting residents’ health and well-being.
- Sustainable value: Buildings designed with sustainability in mind have higher market value and are more attractive to potential buyers or tenants.
- Reduced environmental impact: Lower CO2 emissions and the use of renewable energy sources contribute to environmental and natural resource conservation.
Difference between low-energy, nearly zero-energy and passive houses
Low-energy houses, nearly zero-energy houses, and passive houses are three types of energy-efficient buildings that differ in their energy consumption for heating and cooling. All three types of houses are designed to reduce thermal losses through the building envelope, utilize natural light and ventilation, and use renewable energy sources.
Criterion | Low-energy House | Nearly zero-energy house | Passive house |
Annual heating energy requirement | ≤ 25 kWh/m² | ≤ 15 kWh/m² | ≤ 15 kWh/m² |
Annual primary energy | Not precisely defined | ≤ 60 kWh/m² | ≤ 120 kWh/m² |
Thermal insulation | Standard | Better than low-energy house | Best among the three types |
Energy consumption | Higher than nearly zero-energy house | Lower than low-energy house | Lowest among the three types |
Use of renewable energy sources | Less | More than low-energy house | Most among the three types |
Construction costs | Lowest | Higher than low-energy house | Highest among the three types |
Heating and cooling cost savings | Lower than nearly zero-energy and passive house | Higher than low-energy house | Highest among the three types |
Potential subsidies or incentives | Smaller | Higher than low-energy house | Highest among the three types |
The table above shows that a nearly zero-energy house is more energy-efficient than a low-energy house, consuming less energy for operation and obtaining a larger share of this energy from renewable sources. A passive house is more energy-efficient than a nearly zero-energy house, with better thermal insulation and airtightness of the building envelope, and a more efficient ventilation system with heat recovery. A passive house also aligns better with international passive building standards. Although the construction of nearly zero-energy and passive houses is more expensive than low-energy houses, the difference is offset by savings on heating and cooling costs and potential subsidies or incentives for using renewable energy sources.
Conclusion
Achieving carbon neutrality requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which includes changing how we plan, build, and use buildings. Sustainable construction, which considers rational energy use, emission reduction, efficient resource use, and a healthy indoor environment, is essential for achieving sustainable development goals and mitigating climate change. Our goal must be to create a construction industry that is not only sustainable but also contributes to improving the quality of life. This includes ensuring a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for all users. Through collective efforts, we can achieve carbon neutrality and build a future that is friendly to the environment and future generations.