What does it mean for a building to be zero carbon? We come across this term more and more often. We also instinctively know that it means using technologies that will not pollute the environment during the use of the house. However, the issue of zero-emission has many important considerations. Here are some aspects of the building of the future.
When we talk about a zero-emission building, we mean one that uses locally available renewable energy sources. At the same time, it offsets the consumption associated with the use of non-renewable energy sources
For zero carbon buildings, the key parameter is energy efficiency. It expresses the readiness of a building to be comfortable to live in while using as little energy as possible. It is very important to assess the energy efficiency of a building. It is mainly influenced by
Preparation of energy performance of the building and meeting the minimum requirements is primarily the responsibility of investors who put up the building for sale or with a view to rent
The issue of energy efficiency of a building is increasingly important – especially in view of the changes introduced in 2021, where the legislator clearly aims to commission only new passive buildings, which in turn translates into increased construction costs
It should be taken into account already at the stage of designing the house. Responsible for this is the designer, who creates an architectural and construction project. At the stage of its implementation, responsibility passes to the construction manager
First of all, it is a requirement imposed by national and European legislation. Since 2010 European Union countries are obliged to introduce changes increasing requirements for building in such a way that use of buildings could consume as little primary energy as possible. In Poland, such changes were and are introduced gradually – important arrangements came into force in 2013, 2017 and 2021, respectively. According to the latest regulations, which allow primary energy consumption at a level of 75 kWh/m2, it is practically impossible to build houses that are under-insulated, have low-quality window frames or have a traditional solid fuel boiler
As a result, the high standards already encourage zero-emission construction. However, it is worth mentioning that these rules should be implemented in case of thorough reconstruction of a building. However, the legislator acts in such a way that probably in a few years the need for changes will also cover older buildings. So it is better to bet on modernity today, than significantly subsidize the investment in the future. It is worth adding that the pressure for zero-emission will also have a global character. This is due to the provision for decarbonization of residential facilities, which is to be carried out by 2050. It is worth adding that as much as 28% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the operation of real estate
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