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Three Steps to Take to Become a Net-Zero Energy Company

Many contractors are familiar with the steps it takes to build a more energy-efficient building. Fewer have worked on zero energy buildings, which derive 100 percent of their power from renewable sources or generate their own renewable energy onsite.
By Brent Trenga
March 28, 2018
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Many people and companies in the building and construction industry are familiar with the steps it takes to build a more energy-efficient building, including high-quality insulation, thermally efficient building materials, Energy Star-certified HVAC systems, reflective roof coatings, smart windows and more.

Fewer people and companies have worked on zero energy buildings—those that use 100 percent of their power from renewable sources and/or generate their own renewable energy onsite. These buildings aren’t very common. According to the New Buildings Institute, 67 buildings in the United States and Canada have been verified as zero energy buildings and another 415 are being evaluated to see if they meet the criteria. That’s just a handful of buildings out of the six million commercial buildings in the United States and Canada.

Now imagine taking an entire company and making it net zero energy (NZE), which means eliminating the use of fossil fuels completely. It’s a daunting task for a single-site business and even more so for companies with a global presence. But several companies are doing it because of a strong commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change and a desire to pave the way for other companies to follow their lead.

The first step in becoming an NZE company is accepting the reality of climate change and its underlying causes. Companies also need to take stock of their own impact on the environment, such as carbon output.

The building and construction industry has a profound impact on climate change. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 39 percent of CO2 emissions and consume 70 percent of the electricity load (most of it from non-renewable sources) in the United States. That simple realization could be enough to motivate a company to start the journey to become a NZE company.

Becoming an NZE company means attacking the problem on several fronts, including:

1. Save More

The first step—and the easiest step and one that every company can do—is to reduce its overall energy consumption. Employee awareness, energy metering, building management systems, lighting upgrades, motor replacements, equipment upgrades and process heat recovery equipment are just a few of the ways that companies can save more energy. Some companies have cut their energy consumption by as much as 30 percent after conducting thorough internal energy audits and implementing changes.

2. Generate More

The next step is for a company to generate its own clean energy on site, whether its wind, solar PV, biomass, geothermal or solar hot water. Some companies are swapping out old gas-fired heating systems and replacing them with biomass boilers that can run on sawdust or wood scraps left over from manufacturing processes. The drop in the cost of solar panels is putting PV in reach of many more companies.

3. Buy More from Renewable Sources

The third step is to procure remaining energy needs from fully certified renewable sources. Many utilities offer businesses the ability to contract for wind energy on a long-term basis. It can also include the purchase of stand-along energy attribute certificates.

The RE 100 is a list of the world’s most influential companies that have committed to using 100 percent renewable power. These companies are global giants that are taking the lead on committing to using only renewable electricity.

Beyond the technical aspects of eliminating a company’s reliance on fossil fuels, there’s something else that is just as important: incorporating the mission into the culture of the company. There has to be a top-down belief and commitment to the cause. The journey won’t be easy, simple or fast—but it is guaranteed to be rewarding, for employees today and generations to come. What better legacy is there to leave than a healthier planet?

by Brent Trenga
Brent Trenga, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP is Director of Sustainability for Kingspan Insulated Panels North America. His background as an architect, construction manager, developer and project owner give him a unique perspective on all facets of the construction industry. Trenga leads Kingspan North America’s material health and transparency program and Kingspan’s North American NZE 2020 program, while collaborating with the company’s global healthy building team.

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