Taiwan officially announced in March 2022「Taiwan's 2050 Net Zero Emissions Pathway Blueprint"As climate change caused by human activities becomes more and more serious, "carbon neutrality" has become a global focus.
To achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, in the field of construction,Operational carbon generated during constructionand Embodied CarbonGreen building design has become a key trend in the transformation of the construction industry in order to achieve near-zero carbon buildings or ESG-compliant buildings.
In this article, B-Studio will help you quickly understand what carbon neutrality means and its impact on the environment.
What does carbon neutrality mean?
carbon neutralityIt refers to the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions directly or indirectly generated by a country, enterprise, product, activity or individual within a certain period of time. By using low-carbon energy to replace fossil fuels, afforestation, energy conservation and emission reduction, etc., to offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated by itself, the positive and negative offsets are achieved, and relative "zero emissions" are achieved.
There are generally three approaches to achieving carbon neutrality:
Carbon neutrality approach 1: Adopting low-carbon or zero-carbon technologies
This means reducing carbon emissions at the source, for example by replacing traditional fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to lower CO2 emissions. In the long term, the goal is to ensure that all energy comes from low-carbon sources, balancing carbon release with the Earth's natural absorption rate.
Carbon neutrality approach 2: Carbon offsetting
When certain carbon emissions cannot be completely avoided, we can offset our own emissions by planting trees, conserving forests, or purchasing renewable energy certificates. In other words, we can help the Earth "reduce carbon emissions" elsewhere to balance our own emissions.
Carbon Neutrality Practice 3: Carbon Emissions Trading
Companies can meet their carbon neutrality needs by purchasing carbon credits. Simply put, "carbon credits" are the "right to emit carbon," usually calculated in units equivalent to one metric ton of CO₂ emissions. Industries can obtain carbon credits to comply with the Taiwanese government's carbon control regulations or respond to the carbon neutrality requirements of international supply chains and initiatives.
Taiwan established in 2023Taiwan Carbon ExchangeAssist enterprises to achieve carbon neutrality goals and strike a balance with industrial growth and development, and promote overall emission reduction efficiency.
Taiwan's carbon neutrality goal
In response to the increasingly serious climate change, countries around the world have set carbon neutrality target schedules, including the European Union, Japan and South Korea, which have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In Taiwan, the National Development Council announced in 2022 thatTaiwan's Path to Net Zero by 2025", and further announced new carbon reduction targets as follows:
- By 2030, the country's net greenhouse gas emissions will decrease by 28±2% compared with 2005.
- In 2032, the country's net greenhouse gas emissions will decrease by 32±2% compared with 2005.
- By 2035, the country's net greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 38±2% compared with 2005.
inFor the construction sectorThe government has completed 2050 Net Zero Emissions Pathway and Related Measures Planning, so that the entire construction department can follow, the goals are divided into three stages, as follows:
- 2030: New public buildings will achieve energy efficiency level 1 or near-zero carbon buildings.
- 2040: 50% existing buildings will be updated to energy efficiency Class 1 or near-zero carbon buildings.
- 2050: 1,00% new buildings and more than 85% buildings will be near-zero carbon buildings.
Understanding Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Also known as net zero emissions, net zero emissions does not mean no emissions, but rather efforts to minimize human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, and then offset them with negative carbon technologies, forest carbon sinks and other methods to achieve net zero emissions. The difference from carbon neutrality is that carbon neutrality focuses on the balance of carbon dioxide, while net zero emissions cover all greenhouse gases.
Net-zero building promotion
The "Net Zero Building" path covers four main driving axes, including:
Net Zero Building Task 1: Improving the Energy Efficiency of Newly Built Buildings
- Establish a building energy efficiency assessment and labeling system
- Encourage more buildings to apply for green building certification
- Strengthen building energy efficiency regulations and control new public and private buildings
Net Zero Building Task 2: Improving the Energy Efficiency of Existing Buildings
- Subsidize private sector efforts to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings
- Gradually mandate energy efficiency improvements for existing public buildings
- Promote energy-saving performance assurance projects
- Encourage companies to include building energy efficiency in their corporate sustainability reports
Net Zero Building Task 3: Improve the Energy Efficiency of Appliances and Equipment
- Improve energy efficiency benchmarks for household appliances in stages
- Continuing assessment of the preferential tax reduction for goods
- Amend apartment building management regulations to facilitate the installation of charging facilities
Net Zero Building Task 4: Research, Development, and Promotion of New Technologies and Methods for Building Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction
- Introducing innovative energy-saving technologies into buildings
- Research and development of building carbon reduction methods and technologies
What is a carbon-neutral green building?
Taiwan's construction industry accounts for 28.3% of the country's total energy consumption. To create an energy-saving, low-carbon, healthy and environmentally friendly living environment, the Ministry of the Interior has actively promoted green buildings for many years and established a green building label evaluation system.Green Building Label, and issued for buildings that have completed planning and design and obtained construction licensesCandidate for Green Building CertificateTwo items.
9 indicators for Green Building Label assessment
Large indicator group | Indicator name | Evaluation Key Points |
ecology | 1. Biodiversity indicators | Ecological green network, microbial habitats, plant diversity, soil ecology |
2. Greening quantity index | Greening amount, CO₂ fixation | |
3. Base water retention index | Water retention, storage and infiltration, soft flood control | |
Energy saving | 4. Daily energy saving indicators (necessary) | Energy saving for housing, air conditioning and lighting |
waste reduction | 5. CO₂ reduction index | CO₂ emissions from building materials |
6. Waste reduction indicators | Earthwork balance and waste reduction | |
healthy | 7. Indoor environment indicators | Sound insulation, lighting, ventilation, building materials |
8. Water resource indicators (essential) | Water-saving devices, rainwater, and greywater reuse | |
9. Sewage and garbage improvement indicators | Rainwater and sewage diversion, garbage sorting, and composting |
Green building grade
From qualified to the best, there are five levels: qualified, bronze, silver, gold, and diamond. In addition to being in line with international trends, this grading assessment system requires that in order to pass the assessment and obtain the "Green Building Label" or "Candidate Green Building Certificate", at least four indicators must be achieved, including two required indicators of "daily energy saving" and "water resources", and optional indicators of any two from the other seven indicators.
To learn more, read further:
Embodied Carbon
To achieve the goal of net-zero buildings, we must focus on the total carbon emissions of the building throughout its life cycle, which includes embodied carbon and operational carbon.Embodied carbon, also known as embodied carbon emissions, refers to the carbon emissions of a building during the four stages of production and transportation of building materials, construction, renovation and demolition..
Low Carbon Building Label
To encourage builders, architects, and related industries to invest in the construction of low-carbon buildings and reduce the carbon emissions of buildings during the production and transportation of building materials, construction, renovation, and demolition stages, the Ministry of the Interior's Building Research Institute has established a low-carbon building labeling system based on the internationally recognized EN15978 full life cycle building carbon footprint assessment standard.
Low Carbon Building Labeling System
There are seven levels from high to low: level one, level two, level three, level four, level five, level six, and level seven. Low-carbon buildings refer to buildings with a carbon emission labeling level of level four or above.
operational carbon
Also known as carbon emissions, it refers to the use of building energy throughout its life cycle. In simple terms,Carbon emissions mainly come from the energy required to operate the building, such as lighting, water, electricity, etc.
Building Energy Efficiency Labelling
Ministry of the Interior Architectural Research InstituteTo improve the energy efficiency of Taiwan's buildings and help achieve the 2050 net zero building goal, the building energy efficiency is calculated using the Green Building Standard's daily energy-saving indicators, including the building's outer shell energy efficiency, air-conditioning system energy efficiency, and indoor lighting system energy efficiency, as a method for assessing building energy efficiency levels.
Building Energy Efficiency Labelling System
The energy efficiency rating of buildings is divided into levels 1 to 7 from high to low.
To learn more, read further:Green decoration embraces sustainable living: How to create a sustainable and comfortable living space through environmentally friendly material selection and energy-saving design?
What is a near-zero carbon building?
Buildings with a building energy efficiency rating of Level 1 and an energy efficiency score in the top 50% are considered near-zero carbon buildings and are designated Level 1+.In the future, buildings that achieve near-zero carbon building ratings will save about 50% energy, and the remaining electricity consumption will need to rely on renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality and zero emissions, making them net zero buildings.
esg Architecture Trends
With growing awareness of environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG), businesses are moving beyond a focus on economic returns and are actively addressing sustainable development issues. In line with this trend, a growing number of private enterprises are responding to government-driven green building policies and energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives, incorporating ESG principles into building design and operational management.
To learn more, read further:
Building a Sustainable and Low-Carbon Architectural Firm｜B-Studio
B-Studio Our design concept is derived from the core values of nature, sustainability, health and green architecture. We uphold the aesthetic spirit of simplicity and pristineness, plan the overall space according to the circular context, and allow architecture and nature to coexist harmoniously to create a sustainable and low-carbon building.
References:
- Wikipedia
- Taipei City's Net Zero Emissions Self-Government Ordinance passed its third reading, marking the nation's first net zero legislation and joining citizens in moving toward a net zero society.
- Architectural Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China
- Taipei City Green Building Self-Government Ordinance | All Articles of the Ordinance
- 2050 Net Zero Emissions
- Promoting Net Zero Building Transformation—Towards the 2050 Net Zero Emissions Target (Executive Yuan Global Information Network)
- Green Building Label for Health and Welfare Building - Secretariat
