Week4 pre-session reflection: Are We Ready for Zero Carbon Buildings?

This article provides some views of zero carbon building. Firstly, it gives the definition. Zero carbon building refers to that using renewable energy to balance the energy produced and energy required in a building, so that zero emission, carbon zero, carbon neutral or zero energy can be achieved. Secondly, it shows data to state that zero carbon building can effectively save energy consumption and reduce carbon emission. Josh’s house is a good example in Australia. It has sustainable system and now is considered carbon ‘positive’.

Although it has many advantages, a large amount of cost and human attitude are two barriers to it. to build zero carbon building is expensive so that developers still hesitate about doing it. however, it will save $17 trillion globally if it is going to establish low carbon cities. Therefore, Dr Deo Prasad suggest that zero carbon buildings should be built and governments, researchers, industry and individuals should work together to make it come true.

Of course zero carbon building should be encouraged. However, to establish it is not an easy thing. I had followed my tutor to design an energy efficient building in Xi’an during my senior year. I felt very hard to complete this project because there were many data to calculate. Moreover, it is very hard to think how to make a procedure more energy effective. All these design depend on data, experience and experiment. Even though this kind of building is difficult to construct, it has great potential to make our life better, why not to conquer these problems?