In an effort to advance far-reaching strategies for energy efficiency and fossil fuel independence in new and operational buildings, the International Living Future Institute, Toronto, Canada, unveiled the Net Zero Energy Building Certification program.

     The program is linked to the Living Building Challenge, widely considered to be the world’s most stringent and progressive green building program. As with the Living Building Challenge, certification is based on actual performance rather than modeled outcomes. Buildings must be operational for at least 12 consecutive months prior to evaluation.

    “In the next two decades, we are looking at the disappearance of cheap oil, a scarcity of finite resources, the continual decay of our infrastructure and a ballooning planetary population that will compel us to adjust to new ways of building and being,” says Jason F McLennan, CEO of the Institute. “We see Net Zero Energy Building Certification as a way to galvanize and recognize widespread efforts to eliminate fossil fuel use and to conserve energy. We also hope that those who seek this sustainable path --- and who are successful -- will capitalize on the possibilities and consider expanding their scope to achieve full Living Building Challenge certification in the future.”

     The Net Zero Energy Certification program is the first of its kind and will likely capture the attention of projects around the globe seeking to be free of fossil fuels and carbon emissions. Projects may register from anywhere in the world and nearly any project is eligible for consideration. Renewable energy is defined as passive solar, photovoltaics, wind turbines, solar thermal, direct geothermal, water-powered microturbines, or fuel cells powered by hydrogen generated from renewably-powered electrolysis.

    “Third party verification of far reaching goals like net zero energy is critically important to their uptake. Certification and the independent audits we provide are proof that environmental claims are real” says McLennan.

Look up Lutron for energy-saving light control