What Is A Zero Emissions Building? U.S. Department of Energy Offers Definition

The buildings and construction sector generates 37% of global emissions, according to the United Nations. Dig a little deeper, and most of those emissions involve infrastructure materials (cement, iron, steel and aluminum) along with the ongoing building operations (heat, cooling, electric, etc.), according to Architecture 2030.

With those data points and the climate in mind, some cities and municipalities are calling for a gradual shift to zero emissions buildings. The definition: A zero emissions building is "highly energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases directly from energy use, and is powered solely by clean energy," according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Zero Emission Buildings: Emerging Regulations

That U.S. Department of Energy definition emerged in June 2024. But numerous cities and countries worldwide started a gradual march toward zero emission buildings long before the definition arrived. Indeed, a growing list of government regulations will gradually force building owners and real estate investors to decarbonize their commercial and residential assets.

Examples include:

• Maryland Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS)
• New York Local Law 97;
• a large buildings emissions law in Seattle, Washington;
• and a Future Homes Standard in the United Kingdom.

Managed IT Services for Energy Consumption Monitoring

The march toward zero emissions buildings may fuel demand for managed IT services and channel partners that can monitor and optimize customers' energy consumption. Demand for building energy management systems appears steady to strong, depending on which market forecast you potentially believe. For instance:

• The global building automation and control system market will reach $168.8 billion by 2031, up from $87.3 billion in 2022, Transparency Market Research forecast. That's a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%, the firm said.
• Spending on building management systems is expected to reach $19.25 billion in 2023, up from $6.65 billion in 2016. That's a 16.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period, according to MarketsAndMarkets. 

The U.S. government also is assisting the market. For instance, the federal government plans to spend $250 million to help federal agencies implement net-zero building projects.