Zero Carbon Buildings - a worthwhile aspiration?

In December 2006, the Department of Communities and Local Government in the UK launched 'Building a Greener Future' - a policy package towards zero carbon residential development comprising a target for zero carbon new homes by 2016, a Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change, and the Code for Sustainable Homes - a voluntary standard for sustainability which charts the way towards a lower carbon future.

Over two years on from this, how have we progressed - not only in the UK, but internationally on this issue? In particular, are building industry stakeholders in Australia and the US keen to proceed on a similar path?

The United Nations Sustainable Buildings & Construction Initiative
estimates that buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of total global
greenhouse gas emissions - if you consider a building's lifespan,
including construction, operation, maintenance, fi t-outs and demolition.

Furthermore, sources suggest that they offer substantial opportunities
for low cost carbon abatement. They therefore have a vital role to play
in addressing the issue of climate change. So, should we be aiming for
stringent emission reduction targets in the building sector? Should we be
aiming for zero carbon buildings? What, in fact, do we mean by a zero
carbon building?

This study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, involved discussion with
stakeholders from Australia, the US and the UK, from sub-sectors
spanning architecture, design and development, construction, facilities
management, and building finance, with the aim of gaining answers to
these questions, and a deeper insight into stakeholder perspectives on a
shift towards zero carbon buildings.

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