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Green building and sustainable construction have been hot topics in recent years, and most recently, there is growing interest in whether we can build zero emissions buildings. It’s no surprise that buildings account for a large portion of carbon emissions in the US – 40% to be exact, while 80% of that is from electricity use. For this reason, many states, utilities, and large corporations are moving to get electricity from clean, carbon neutral sources. Rather than use natural gas, a more attractive option is an all-electric building couple with renewable or a carbon-free source of electricity.
In tandem with building improvements is a move to transform the electric grid, and in recent years, solar and wind power have begun to overtake fossil fuels. Perhaps not so surprising is the fact that 200 high carbon output coal plants have been retired in just the past few years, but the most significant change for the electric grid is coming from state and municipal policies. As recently as 2019, 11 states and 160 cities had officials goals to get 100% of their electricity from clean sources by 2050 or sooner. California is already 55% carbon-free on its electric grid, and much of the Northwest is already well above 90% carbon-free due to the reliance on large, hydroelectric power. Keep reading for more about the new equipment that’s being used to achieve these goals in the built environment, and a successful case study around a 220,000-square-foot office building in Alameda, CA.
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