Designing with Communities, not for Communities: Equity in ZNE

Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings have a stigma of being high-cost buildings for the bottomless budget. In fact, ZNE costs are in line with other green buildings. As a benefit, ZNE buildings are higher performing, offering superior comfort, healthier places to work and live, and have lower energy bills. However, it is crucial to consider the communities adjacent to the building and the communities it will serve. Original broadcast date: 11/18/2021.

Rethinking Efficiency in Multifamily Water Heating

Water heating can account for one-third of a multifamily building’s total energy load and over half of a building’s carbon emissions. This webinar will address water heating system design and the technologies necessary to lower energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. Original broadcast date: 11/11/2021.

An Insider’s Guide to Talking about Carbon Neutral Buildings

The building sector is shifting from decades of regulation and programmatic oriented on energy efficiency (kWh and therms) to governmental plans centered on carbon and greenhouse gas emission reductions (CO2e). While energy and carbon metrics are related, they are not the same. As we transition from discussing energy to include carbon, we need to understand what it means to build a carbon neutral building. This webinar will help align the market around what it means to design, construct, and operate carbon neutral buildings. Original broadcast date: 9/23/21.

Solving for the 11% embodied carbon footprint in the built environment

As clean energy policy and practice ratchet down operational carbon emissions in the built environment, embodied carbon becomes a larger share of buildings’ carbon footprint. In this webinar, participants will learn about primary sources of carbon embedded in manufacturing processes and approaches on low-carbon material selection. In addition, presenters use case studies to share a method using lifecycle carbon as a means to intertwine embodied and operational carbon into a cumulative timeline. Original broadcast date: 7/22/2021.

Getting to Zero: Grid-Integrated Buildings

The role of buildings and the grid is changing as historic grid infrastructure strains to handle more centralized and distributed renewable resources, electric vehicles, and smart systems. Solutions are emerging that offer opportunities to rethink how we generate and deliver energy while achieving the carbon savings we seek. In this webinar, presenters share what we’re learning about how buildings can support the electricity grid. Original broadcast date: 4/29/2021.

Getting to Zero: Buildings Case Study Jam

Prime examples of net zero buildings are found across the country and total over 700 verified and emerging projects, according to NBI tracking. This webinar features some of the best buildings to date with a Case Study Jam format that allows in-depth sharing. Watch presenters as they take you on a tour of innovative technical solutions, strategies for successful stakeholder engagement, and more in their quest to achieve zero. Original broadcast date: 3/25/2021.

It’s Getting BETR: The Building Electrification Technology Roadmap is Here

Building electrification technologies are potential game changers for getting to zero in the built environment. Listen to NBI’s Cathy Higgins and Alexi Miller and NBI Senior Fellow Alexis Karolides from Point Energy Innovations to learn about new research on market-ready and emerging electrification products and their role in supporting California program and policy objectives for building decarbonization. Original broadcast date: 2/25/2021.

Getting to Zero: Carbon Neutral Codes

U.S. building energy codes have long centered on kilowatt-hour savings in buildings. Urgency on climate change is pressing us to rapidly address and mitigate carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment, which is responsible for 39% of operational and embodied carbon. Watch this one-hour webinar on the opportunities for states and cities to leverage their energy codes in order to maximize carbon reductions and minimize costs. Original broadcast date: 1/28/2021.

Getting to Zero in Affordable Multifamily Buildings

Low-income communities are most at risk of being left behind as local jurisdictions pursue ambitious carbon reduction goals. Presenters from The Community Preservation Corporation and Association for Energy Affordability will share challenges, lessons learned, and actual cost data from successful zero energy affordable multifamily projects. Original broadcast date: 12/3/2020.

Decarbonization Technologies: What We Have, What We Need

Take stock of the current state of the building technologies needed to drive decarbonization at scale. In this webinar, moderated by Clay Nesler, a report is provided on Johnson Controls’ recent Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey. Presenters share developments in heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, renewable energy, and energy storage systems. Original broadcast date: 10/29/2020.

The Getting to Zero Market Landscape and 2020 Buildings List

NBI’s Alexi Miller and Kevin Carbonnier share the status of the zero energy market in North America, including a tech review and the relationship between zero energy and zero carbon. The session also features leaders from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, firms Perkins+Eastman and VMDO, and ASHRAE. Original broadcast date: 9/24/2020.

Codes and Policies to Advance Zero Goals

Presenters from New York State, Metro Boston and Denver provide a snapshot of approaches that are being taken in their jurisdictions across North America to achieve energy and carbon goals by leveraging voluntary programs, mandatory and stretch codes, and other local government tools to drive change. Original broadcast date: 6/18/2020.

A Deeper Dive into Zero Net Carbon Schools

Intended for K-12 & community college administrators, operations managers, school board members, and others, this training goes in depth on ZNC school retrofit strategies, lessons learned, and resources in designing, constructing, retrofitting, and operating school facilities on the path to zero. Original broadcast date: 5/14/2020.

A Call to Action for Zero Embodied Carbon

Getting to zero requires targeting both operating and embodied carbon. This session presents a theory of change with case studies that aim to be zero embodied carbon discussing the feasibility of building density goals on embodied and operating carbon and explain the role that building reuse plays in achieving a zero carbon future. Original broadcast date: 4/20/2020.

Zero Energy Homes Show Continuing Strong Growth

Team Zero has concluded its fourth annual inventory of housing in the U.S. and Canada on the path to zero energy operations. Learn about both dramatic changes from prior years and some findings consistent with earlier inventories. Original broadcast date: 7/18/2019.

Getting to Zero Buildings Count and Trends for 2019

Targets for zero energy/carbon outcomes are growing exponentially. NBI has been tracking the zero energy building sector for nearly a decade and just released the Getting to Zero Buildings Database, an online tool allowing users to access the most current data. Original broadcast date: 5/9/2019.

Tools for Getting to Zero Energy in School New Construction

Zero energy schools are indeed possible and don’t have to come with a premium price tag! Watch this one-hour webinar focusing on new design guidance that helps school projects cost effectively achieve advanced levels of energy savings. Original broadcast date: 3/21/2019.

Zero Carbon/Energy Codes: Key Policy Tools

As governments of all scales consider options for meeting deep greenhouse gas reduction goals, attention has turned to how to achieve zero energy or zero emissions from new construction in the building sector, which is responsible for more than 40% of emissions in urban areas. Original broadcast date: 11/1/2018.

Nothing Beats Zero: Updates on Trends and Projects

Zero energy (ZE) buildings are a tiny part of the market but their growth trend is steep and practitioners and policies are accelerating their adoption. Watch this webinar to learn the latest about trends in size, types, and locations of ZE commercial buildings. Original broadcast date: 3/16/2018.