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Pat Barry, CEO of the IGBC, presenting on the Net Zero Carbon Definition at IGBC partners event
Pat Barry, CEO of the IGBC, presenting on the Net Zero Carbon Definition at IGBC partners event – image courtesy of IPUT Real Estate Dublin.

CONSULTATION CLOSED

National and international drivers are promoting the achievement of Net Zero Carbon (NZC) emissions from the built environment. Most notable are legislation that will be driven by the revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), requiring NZC performance to be achieved by all new buildings by 2030, and by all existing building stock by 2050.

Also, in late 2022, the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) launched  Building a Zero Carbon Ireland – a Roadmap to decarbonise Ireland’s Built Environment. However, there is currently no official national definition for NZC performance.

Against this background, the IGBC is proposing the below NZC definitions as guidance for members and the broader Irish construction industry and would welcome your feedback.

Net Zero Carbon Operational Energy:

A ‘Net Zero Carbon Operational Energy’ building does not exceed local targets for operational energy use intensity and utilizes renewable energy sources for all building energy use; such that the annual Global Warming Potential for operational energy (B6) of the in-use building life cycle stage is less than or equal to zero.

Net Zero Whole Life Carbon:

A ‘Net Zero Whole Life Carbon’ building does not exceed local targets for operational energy use or embodied carbon, where renewable energy sources are utilized for all building energy use and, as a last resort, residual carbon is compensated for; such that the sum total Global Warming Potential for all cradle to grave life cycle stages are less than or equal to zero.

 

The IGBC have prepared a draft document with clarifications on the key terminology and concepts of the definitions. You are invited you to review the full draft document and provide your feedback via a short survey.

The draft document can be downloaded here, IGBC Net Zero Carbon Definitions.



This public consultation will be open until Friday 17th of November.

Should you wish, direct feedback is also welcome via email, which can be submitted to patrick.oreilly@igbc.ie

In addition to these definitions, the IGBC is currently leading projects that aim to establish methodologies for the assessment and reporting required to determine and demonstrate NZC performance.