'Net-zero' is now the New Normal for green buildings

摘要

Man up, America's Building Teams! The gauntlet has been thrown at your feet. The fighting words have been issued. It's dueling BIM models at sunrise. There's no longer any excuse for not at least trying to build a net-zero (or near net-zero) energy building. We have proof that it can be done. That's because we now have tangible evidence of a viable net-zero energy building—the 222,000-sf Research Support Facility at the National Renewable Energy Lab, a Platinum winner in this year's Building Team Awards (page 36). This building shows that net-zero energy construction is no longer a pipe dream. Can you imagine what it must have been like for the RSF Building Team, with hundreds of scientists—who spend 100% of their working hours on energy research—breathing down their necks? That the team exceeded all 26 management objectives with such an intensely involved client on their case is proof that this can be done under more "normal" circumstances.