THE ZERO CODE

Learn MoreThe Zero Code is a Renewable Energy Procurement Framework that provides cities and states guidance for including renewable energy as part of their strategy to achieve zero-carbon buildings.
Learn MoreThe recent addition of the Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix to the International Energy Conservation Code empowers local communities to take action on climate change through building codes. Jurisdictions that adopt the Appendix can make zero-net-carbon the standard for their commercial, institutional, and mid- to high-rise residential building operations.

ZERO CODE RENEWABLE ENERGY APPENDIX ADDED TO THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE

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ZERO CODE IN CONGRESSIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PLANS

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis report “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America” calls for incentivizing jurisdictions to immediately adopt a net-zero-emission code based on the Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix of the 2021 IECC.

WHY THE ZERO CODE?

We are currently undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in human history: by 2060, we will double our current global building stock. Only by eliminating COemissions from new building operations will we begin to reduce building sector emissions overall.

ABOUT

The Zero Code Renewable Energy Procurement Framework supports the development of decarbonization policies with on- or off-site renewable energy requirements for meeting a building’s anticipated energy needs. It is an essential tool in any policymaker’s toolbox to meet their building decarbonization goals.

THE ZERO CODE

The Zero Code Renewable Energy Procurement Framework works alongside energy efficiency, electrification measures and other decarbonization strategies to support the construction of code-compliant, zero-carbon buildings that use local clean energy. 

THE 2022 ZERO CODE FOR CALIFORNIA

The 2022 Zero Code for California is a zero carbon building energy standard for new non-residential, high-rise residential, and hotel/motel buildings, the prevalent building types being constructed in cities today. Its energy efficiency standard will be the upcoming 2022 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES).

EMBODIED CARBON

In order to truly decarbonize the built environment, we must eliminate fossil fuel carbon emissions from both building operations and embodied carbon. To address the urgency of embodied carbon reductions, Architecture 2030 has launched the Carbon Smart Materials Palette. The Carbon Smart Materials Palette identifies high-impact building materials and the attributes that contribute to their carbon impact, and provides strategies and options for reducing their emissions.

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