Net Zero Energy - August 24, 2024

She built one of the most energy-efficient homes in D.C. Here’s how.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/03/05/energy-efficient-net-zero-adu/
This may get you past the paywall if you’re stopped:  https://archive.is/RRil5

Modular passive house project in Brooklyn, St Felix Street Project
https://www.asåsemblyosm.com/buildings/sfx

Neighborhood built to be car-free
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/13/we-need-more-purpose-built-car-free-neighborhoods-like-culdesac-tempe/
Editorial Comment:  not necessarily net zero energy building but reducing transportation energy is a missing part of the puzzle i.e. electric vehicles alone aren’t enough

The House of Green - buildings that bring nature inside
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240420-12-stunning-buildings-that-bring-nature-inside

Final Clean Energy Rule for Federal Buildings - "phase out fossil fuel usage in new federal building construction or major renovation by achieving a 90% reduction in fossil fuel use for new projects started between fiscal years 2025 and 2029 and completely eliminating on-site fossil fuel usage in new projects beginning in 2030"
https://www.energy.gov/femp/federal-building-energy-efficiency-rules-and-requirements
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/04/24/u-s-department-of-energy-announces-final-rule-to-propel-federal-buildings-toward-zero-emissions/

"Construction company builds 3D-printed starter home in under 20 hours"
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/havelar-3d-printed-homes-portugal-affordable/

Net positive retrofit of 1945 building in Queens, NYC
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/realestate/yoåu-can-be-a-little-different-in-queens-why-this-home-is-not-like-the-others.html?u2g=i&unlocked_article_code=1.w00.gIok.rTLp9LLGewUm&smid=url-share

USA DOE now has a national definition for a Zero Emissions Building - "a building that is highly energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases directly from energy use, and is powered solely by clean energy"
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/bto-national-definition-060524.pdf
hat tip cleantechnica.com

Combining waste heat and heat pumps to reduce fossil fuels in a NYC high-rise
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/this-nyc-high-rise-is-using-heat-pumps-and-waste-heat-to-cut-fossil-fuels
Editorial Comment:  Not close to zero, yet, but another step along the way for a difficult form factor

South Australia will be 100% wind/solar grid by 2027, 70% now
https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-locks-in-federal-funds-to-become-first-grid-in-world-to-reach-100-per-cent-net-wind-and-solar/

NYC has largest passive house in USAmerica, 700 units of affordable housing
https://www.senderoverdenyc.com/
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/08/15/new-york-city-is-home-to-largest-passive-house-building-in-the-us/

World’s largest 3-D printed neighborhood nears completion - not necessarily net zero but certainly solar based upon the picture
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/worlds-largest-3d-printed-neighborhood-nears-completion-texas-2024-08-08/
Editorial Comment:  I heard Professor Behrokh "Berok” Khoshnevis of USC lecture on his early work on this kind of process at MIT in 2004.  Everything takes so much time.