Net Zero homes and Carbon Neutral homes are both concepts grounded in reducing a home’s environmental impact, but they approach this goal from slightly different angles.
Net Zero Home
A Net Zero home will make as much electricity on-site as it will consume over the course of one year. So in theory, any energy your building is taking from the electrical grid will be returned.
Net Zero homes are primarily focused on the energy used and produced by the home. The goal is to create a home that produces as much energy (through renewable sources) as it consumes, leading to a net-zero energy bill over a year.
These homes prominently feature renewable energy systems like solar panels to generate the necessary energy to power the home.
Net Zero homes emphasize energy efficiency in the architectural design and the appliances used, aiming to reduce the overall energy consumption to a minimum.
The performance of a Net Zero home is mainly assessed by measuring the energy consumed and the energy generated on-site over a defined period, usually annually.
Carbon Neutral Home
A home that is designed and implemented in such a way that it does not release any additional carbon emissions into the atmosphere by sustaining itself with clean energy. This means that the energy the house consumes is purely electric.
Carbon Neutral homes are focused on reducing and offsetting the carbon emissions associated with the home, encompassing a broader range of factors than just energy use. It includes considering the carbon footprint of the materials used in construction, the energy sources for the home, and even transportation means encouraged by the home infrastructure.
Beyond just reducing carbon emissions through energy-efficient designs and renewable energy use, Carbon Neutral homes also involve offset strategies to offset any remaining emissions, such as investing in carbon offset projects.
Carbon neutrality involves a more comprehensive approach, where even the carbon emissions from the production of building materials and other indirect sources are considered, and strategies are put in place to offset these emissions.
The measurement of carbon neutrality is a more complex process involving the calculation of the total carbon footprint of the home (including direct and indirect emissions) and then implementing strategies to offset this footprint.
Key Differences
While Net Zero homes have a more narrow focus on energy, Carbon Neutral homes consider a broader array of factors, including water conservation, material sourcing, and potentially even transportation.
Carbon Neutral homes actively incorporate offset strategies, which may not always be a feature in Net Zero homes.
Both types of homes integrate renewable technologies but might do so to different extents, with Net Zero homes emphasizing self-sufficiency in energy production.
Measuring carbon neutrality can be a more complex process compared to measuring net-zero status, given the broader range of factors considered in the former.
In essence, while there is overlap between Net Zero and Carbon Neutral homes in terms of the strategies used (like energy efficiency and renewable energy use), Carbon Neutral homes take a more extensive approach to environmental sustainability, considering a broader range of factors and including offset strategies to achieve neutrality. Net Zero homes, on the other hand, are more focused on achieving a balance between energy consumption and production.
