Net Zero’ means achieving a balance between the amount of emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere in order to reduce global warming.
Simply speaking, for every molecule of greenhouse gas put in the air, you take one out making the net emission ‘zero’.
The concept of ‘Net Zero’ allows for some elements of emissions to be above zero however these elements need to be balanced out against other elements to have a have Net Neutral impact of the emissions. ‘Carbon 0’ is not achievable, there will always be elements like aviation etc. which will contribute greenhouse gasses but this has to be offset by sectors where it is possible to find alternative energy source or reduce the consumption with the net impact being 0 on the environment.
How do we move to Net Zero?
PRINCIPLE # 1 - ENERGY EFFICIANCY
Bring in measures to efficiently consume the energy resources required for utilities and equipment in the building and campuses in order to bring down the power consumption.
Right sizing the required systems for the buildings and Campuses
Optimizing the HVAC systems - boilers, chiller and pumping systems, using heat recovery techniques, passive cooling etc.
Simulating the peak loads to efficiently model the design plus predicting the optimized requirements can help achieve this.
Bring in measures such has using high-efficiency lighting & control systems. These could include: LED lights, occupancy sensors, day lighting dimming sensors, high-performance ballasts, dual circuited task lighting etc
How do we move to Net Zero?
PRINCIPLE # 2 - RENEWABLE ENERGY
Our 2nd principle involves replacing the existing carbon emitting energy resources with green resources. This would include putting rooftop sola r systems, storing energy, solar water heaters, solar lighting, biomass systems etc
While these measures maybe capital intensive there are environmentally sustainable and in the longer run lead to a much cheaper opex and the payback period is between 5-7 years. There are also options available to put these in on an opex model where by the initial investment is done by someone else
How do we move to Net Zero?
PRINCIPLE # 3 - Minimal Structural Optimization
Our 3rd principle of for moving towards a Net Zero concept
Not only the building should be oriented to minimize HVAC loads, but shades and overhangs should be used to reduce the direct sunrays. Since most of the building that would undertake this concept would have already been build, this is something that needs to be super imposed with minimal structural changes.
Multiple options are available such as roof overhangs, shades and awning, and vegetation. Other measures to reduce heat gains are to increase insulation on opaque surfaces, use glazing with low solar heat gain coefficient values, use double-skin façade, and refine the building envelope to suit location condition
