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ASHRAE PUBLISHES FIRST ZERO ENERGY AND CARBON BUILDING STANDARD

5/01/23

ANSI/ASHRAE’s Publication Standard 228-2023, Standard Method of Evaluating Zero Net Energy and Zero Carbon Building Evaluation Performance, marks a significant step forward in the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. The standard provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating building performance and certifying structures as zero energy or zero carbon.

The new standard is an essential tool for building owners, developers, and designers who seek to achieve ambitious sustainability goals. It sets specific criteria for energy use, on-site renewable energy generation, and carbon emissions, providing a clear roadmap for achieving zero energy or zero carbon status.

Additional features of Standard 228 are as follows:

Allowances for sites that lack the opportunity to produce adequate renewable energy, while placing additional requirements on the use of external carbon and renewable energy in the calculation.
Defined calculation of energy, in terms of source—a multiplier on the energy crossing the site boundary to include energy used or lost in extraction, generation and transit to the site.
The main energy calculation made in terms of annual average factors. Allowance is made for the calculation of individual hours where data is available.

The publication of the Zero Energy and Zero Carbon Building Evaluation Standard reflects a growing recognition that the building sector has a crucial role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Source: ASHRAE