Ready or not, the next wave of green buildings, Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) is here. Technologies are being directed to achieve net zero energy consumption and net zero carbon emissions (per year) in the new evolving green building landscape. Buildings that produce a surplus of energy over the year may be called ‘energy-plus buildings’ and buildings that consume slightly more energy than they produce are called ‘near-zero energy buildings’.

William Maclay discusses the possibilities and future of net-zero buildings.