In 2016, I was so very excited and honored to arrange and moderate a panel discussion at NMHC’s OPTECH called “Net Zero: Coming Soon to a Code Near You”. I wanted to help my multifamily brethren understand what net zero was, the pending requirements it would impose on new construction and the potential code requirements that would be part of a permit pulled for renovations. I was excited to be able to help people understand an emerging standard before it was created so we could be prepared for it.
It did not go well.
Net zero sounded hard and farfetched. I had people tell me very nicely that I was full of something that may or may not come out of a four-legged animal. Admittedly, I was suggesting that we would see new code requirements in 2020. However, I did not see the pandemic coming, which stalled everything. Nevertheless, net zero emerged in codes and in our vernacular in 2021.
That was then and this is now. Allow me to repeat my mistake. I am urging you all to participate in the creation of the definition of zero-emissions buildings. What is that you may ask? Well, it is something that does not exist yet but will eventually be applied to multifamily buildings. The great news in the definition of a zero-emissions building not being established yet is that it creates a super cool opportunity for us to be part of its creation. The White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy seeks to create a standardized, verifiable basis for defining a zero-emissions building.
When we think about building performance standards and how those standards are part of the evolution of compliance benchmarking, I do not think it is too farfetched to consider that zero-emissions will start as a voluntary standard and may become compulsory.
I know I am excited about this developing standard and intend to review and comment on the zero-emissions building definition. Below are the links to the definition as it stands today and to the form to comment on it. I invite you to participate too as this new term will affect all real estate, including ours.
Read the full draft: National Definition for a Zero Emissions Building.
Submit your response using this electronic form, by Monday, February 5 at 5 p.m. EST.
*Peter Cook
