The project created a design prototype for affordable zero
carbon emissions office buildings. If built, Net Zero Co2urt
would become one of the largest net zero emissions buildings in
North America. This experience demonstrated how a net zero
emissions or net zero energy goal must be integrated into the
building design process and established that a design team must
commit to a performance-driven solution at each step of the
process. The process proved that designing an office building —
the most universal commercial building type — to be carbon
neutral was easier and more affordable than most people believe.
By respecting strict performance parameters and using them to
inform and guide the design, the resulting site-specific
solution also revealed a replicable process that could be
applied to most building types and regions across the world.
Detailed cost estimates illustrate that with an estimated
construction cost of $223.00 per square foot, this project is
marketable and affordable. The payback for the in