Zero-Energy Building Numbers Explode

The number of zero-energy (ZE) buildings in the U.S. and Canada has seen a 700% increase in just six years, according to the New Buildings Institute (NBI). The Portland, Oregon-based organization says there are nearly 500 verified and emerging zero-energy buildings now in North America. ZE buildings are ultra-low-energy buildings that consume only as much energy as is produced through renewable generation resources. ZE buildings may be found in 44 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Private-sector investment now represents nearly half of all buildings on the list. California is the front-runner, with Oregon coming in second. The Northeast and Southwest in the U.S. saw the highest growth with more than a 90% increase in buildings since 2014. Visit NBI’s tracking database at newbuildings.org.