Leading industry bodies have co-published the key targets for an operational net-zero building, via an initiative organised by the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI).
The document states that fossil fuels cannot be used for heating and hot water if government zero carbon targets are to be met. It says the average annual carbon content of the heat supplied (gCO2/kWh) should be reported.
The targets were developed in collaboration with the Better Buildings Partnership, CIBSE, RIBA, Good Homes Alliance and UKGBC. The joint paper says total energy use intensity should be no more than 35kWh.m-2 per year gross internal area for homes and 55kWh.m-2 per year for offices, while fabric should be highly insulated to ensure space heating demand is less than 15kWh.m-2 per year for all building types. It calls for annual energy use and renewable energy generation on site to be reported and independently verified in use, every year for the first five years.
Any energy use not met by onsite renewables should be met by investment into additional renewable energy capacity off site or a 15-year power purchase agreement.
Find the requirements here.
