Net-Zero Energy Initiatives

July 28, 2021

Net Zero Energy (NZE) has developed from a fringe movement to approaching mainstream. Here’s a definition: "A Zero Carbon Building is a highly energy-efficient building that produces on-site, or procures, carbon-free renewable energy or high-quality carbon offsets in an amount sufficient to offset the annual carbon emissions associated with building materials and operations." Washington, DC actually incorporated Appendix Z to their Energy Code to delineate requirements for achieving an NZE classification for a DC building. This is not mandatory at the moment, but allows developers to show compliance to an actual standard, and serves as a signal to future building requirements that may be mandated as efficiency goals are upgraded.

Anica Landreneau will speak to the process DC went through and to some projects she has seen and overseen within HOK where she serves as Director of Sustainable Design.