What are the different labels or names for a Sustainable Building ?
What is the difference between a Carbon Neutral and a Net Zero Building? Between a Carbon Positive and Carbon Negative Building? As these labels might all sound complicated, we decided in this article to give our proper definition of each term and their certifications equivalent for you to better understand this very wide subject.
Carbon Neutral, Negative or Positive or even Net-Zero: what is the difference?
Carbon Neutral: Being carbon neutral for companies implies that the carbon emissions they produce with their activities is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed. It means the same quantity of carbon is emitted by the company and then stored or removed from the atmosphere to have a neutral impact on the environment.
Net-Zero: A company that has a Net-Zero emissions balance is a company that has an equilibrium between the amount of GreenHouse Gas (GHG) released and stored. They will first try to reach zero emissions, so there is no carbon needing to be captured or offset. Net Zero also means going beyond simply reducing carbon emissions but also all other greenhouse gasses emissions (Methane, Nitrous Oxide, …).
Carbon Negative or Climate Positive: A company with a Climate Positive or Carbon Negative impact goes beyond net zero carbon emissions. Its activities make additional positive contributions to the environment by removing additional carbon emission from the atmosphere. It means the company stores more carbon than it emits, in order to have a positive impact on the environment.
Carbon Positive: Carbon Positive refers to a marketing term used by companies but meaning the same as Climate Positive and Carbon Negative.
Green: Being green for a company is a general term to define a company that acts in a way which minimizes its impact on the environment.
What are the building certifications that take these definitions into account ?
A building called Carbon Neutral is a building where the design, construction and operation phases do not emit greenhouse gasses or have been balanced. If the construction phase does not emit carbon then the balance is already neutral but if it emits carbon then it must be stored or removed from the atmosphere to have a neutral balance. To certify a building is carbon neutral there are several labels:
Produced and published by the British Standards Institution, PAS 260 is a standard that demonstrates companies are carbon neutral. In fact, as companies claim to reach carbon neutrality, the BSI aims then to certify every company becoming carbon neutral – or achieving ‘net zero’ GHG emissions – by 2050.
Moreover, a Net-Zero Building is Net-Zero Energy and Net-Zero Carbon efficient. It means the building produces its own energy on-site or takes it from off-site renewable energy, all the power needed by the building is generated through renewable energy and doesn’t release any carbon in the atmosphere. The related certifications are:
With international recognition EDGE proposes different levels of certification: EDGE Certified (20% savings in energy, water and embodied energy in materials), EDGE Advanced (40% on-site energy savings) and Zero Carbon (100% renewables on-site or off-site or purchased carbon offsets). While LEED will also look at air quality and health of the occupant, EDGE will only focus on Energy, Water and Materials.
LEED created by the US Green Building Council is a globally recognised certification for green buildings. There are four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design considers energy use, carbon emissions, water conservation, waste reduction, and green materials selection but also transportation, health, and indoor environmental quality.
To go further there is also the LEED Zero Carbon, Energy, Water and Waste that is a complement to LEED and complies with net zero goals.
As for the general definition, a Positive Building has a carbon neutral design but goes beyond net zero carbon emissions. In fact, it produces more energy on-site than needed and sends back the additional stored energy to the grid, and/or stores more carbon than it emits.
The Zero Energy and Carbon Certification by The International Living Future Institute aims to demonstrate the zero energy performance of buildings. It means they are supplied by one hundred percent of on-site renewable energy. This building can also reach Zero Carbon and even more by being Carbon Positive or Energy Positive.
A Green Building includes all of the previous label definitions. In fact, a building is green when the company considers its impact on the environment and tries to reduce it or/and eliminate its carbon emissions or/and produces its own renewable energy or/and even creates a positive impact. For this general term the most commonly used certifications are:
BREEAM is an international certification for a sustainable built environment. This certification assesses every category with 5 stars for green buildings: management, water, energy, transport, health & wellbeing, resources, resilience, land use & ecology, pollution, materials, waste and innovation.
In addition there are also certifications for the Well Being of occupants, it means being healthy and comfortable, but all this is included in the scope of a sustainable construction. In fact, to build sustainable buildings companies must think first about the comfort of their occupants.
WELL Building Standard is an international certification, focusing on people's health and wellness through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and acoustic.
Is there a Thailand based certification?
Yes, currently in Thailand there is the TREES (Thai’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability) certification based on the LEED system specifically modified for Thailand in order to comply with Thailand context. As the LEED certification, it aims to certify buildings are green. It also contains four levels and focuses on Water Conservation, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Site & Landscapes, Green Innovation, Building Management and Environmental Protection.
To learn more: Join Our Event "The Green Real Estate: Beyond Net Zero" on February 9th 2023!
