Types of green buildings How a highly energy efficient building can use and produce energy

Limitations

Less • May use fossil fuels or electricity • Still emits carbon pollution if using gas on site Net Zero for heating • Could become “net zero energy” • Carbon pollution from electricity use will Energy decrease over time as coal and natural gas are Ready with the addition of solar panels or other renewables replaced by renewables

• Still emits carbon pollution if using gas on site • May use fossil fuels or electricity • Not all buildings have solar potential for heating Certainty on emissions reductions emissions on Certainty Net Zero • Generation may not match demand; fossil fuel 1 • Generates as much energy on site Energy or nearby as it uses on an annual burning power plants may still be needed basis during peak hours, leading to higher electricity rates

• May use fossil fuels or electricity • Still emits carbon pollution if using gas on site for heating • Carbon offsets are achieved only if purchased Net Zero • Fossil fuel use (on-site or on the 2 clean energy displaces high-emissions energy $ Carbon grid) is offset with the purchase or generation of low-carbon • There are multiple definitions of when carbon energy balance is achieved

• Increased demand on clean electricity grids • No fossil fuel burned on site • Biofuels still emit carbon pollution and can only Zero Carbon • Only uses clean electricity or be considered carbon neutral if feedstocks are low-carbon fuels sustainably managed and fugitive emissions are addressed

Zero Carbon • No fossil fuel burned on site More + Grid • Generation and load are optimized to meet the needs of the grid Interactive • Provides energy storage and/or load management to relieve grid demands

1. Net-zero energy labelling and certification bodies include the Canadian Home pembina.org/greenbuildings Builders’ Association and International Living Futures Institute 2. Examples of net-zero carbon standards include the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standard and Architecture 2030’s ZERO Code