Zero Energy Building Codes
The state of California is mandating that all new home construction meet a zero energy code by 2025. Washington State has also passed a zero energy building code, and other states are showing signs of following. The United States has mandated that all federal buildings achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
The Construction Industry is Preparing for Zero Energy
California alone has the sixth largest economy in the world. The code changes in these states, combined with the federal government’s mandate to build zero energy buildings, will have a huge impact on the building industry. To be prepared for these mandated changes, major construction companies are preparing now to build to the zero energy standard.
Major developers across North America are offering zero energy options. California builders are leading in the construction of zero energy homes. As the rest of the country follows, California’s example, the impact on zero energy home sales will be tremendous.
Prices of Zero Energy Home Components are Declining
Many of the most important components of a zero energy home are declining in price. For example, the cost of rooftop solar collectors has fallen by half since 2010. Building codes and government incentives will provide a large, predictable, and dependable market for high performance building technologies, like heat pumps. The result is increased investments in these technologies and even lower future costs.
Americans Want to Take Action to Prevent Global Warming
According to a 2024 poll by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, majorities of Americans believe that climate change is affecting many environmental problems: extreme heat events, rising sea levels, wildfires, hurricanes and tornados, droughts, etc. These Americans will increasingly choose energy-efficient options when purchasing or building a new home. They will be especially attracted to the many advantages of zero energy homes not only because of their low carbon footprint, but because of the health and well-being benefits for their families.
The Paris Accords will Spur the Spread of Zero Energy Homes
The Paris Accords commit the U.S. and other countries to limiting global temperature increase to 2˚C and acknowledge that limiting temperature increase to 1.5˚C may well be needed to avoid major climate disruptions. To meet these targets, local, state, and federal governments will be incentivizing and in some cases mandating steps that will lead to the widespread adoption of zero energy homes and buildings.
Cities Across America are Requiring Energy Efficiency Disclosures
Thirty large- and medium-sized cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. are already requiring commercial building owners to disclose the actual energy performance of their buildings. Because it is one of the easiest ways to monitor reductions in carbon emissions, this trend is likely to spread rapidly and will incentivize builders to invest in highly energy efficient buildings and owners to invest in in energy efficient retrofits.
