Simply put, A carbon neutral house is a building whose carbon emissions are zero or less, calculated over a year. A true Net Zero House goes one step further – by offsetting the CO2 emissions produced by the initial construction of the building (the “Embodied Carbon”), by producing enough surplus energy to offset at least the amount of co2 in the carbon footprint (In some applications, carbon offsetting can even be quantified using on-site planting of trees which will sequester carbon in the longer term.) This results in a considered approach to building that looks after the environment both now and into future.

 How do we do it?

1- Low-carbon construction choices.

Up to 40% of a building’s carbon emissions come from the construction and later demolition process.

By carefully selecting materials with lower carbon emissions associated with manufacturing, such as recycled aluminium, timber framing rather than steel, or locally sourced products with low transport distances, it is possible to reduce the co2 footprint of a build by over 50%*

2 – Curated, energy efficient Design.

Heating & cooling can account for up to 50% of home energy usage.

By taking advantage of natural elements, such as warming northern winter sun and natural ventilation in summer, and specifying well-planned insulation, ventilation and weatherproofing details, a house can be designed to function with minimal electric heating & cooling - relying mostly on the intelligent design and natural systems to create a comfortable living environment. This not only keeps your running costs down, it also keeps carbon emissions low. This is the basis of Passivhaus design - See more here

3 – Renewable energy regeneration & offsetting

Solar power is 20 times less carbon-intensive than Coal.

Solar power is one of our best weapons against co2 emissions – for every kWh (Kilowatt-hour) of energy produced by on-site solar in Australia, it’s possible to save 1.02 kg of co2 which would have been produced from the fossil-fueled energy grid. Extend that out over a year of power production, and it can be possible to save tonnes of co2 from entering the atmosphere – enough to eventually negate the emissions produced by construction in the first place. Which brings the carbon footprint of the home down to zero – and even into negative figures in the right situation!

 The end result is a comfortable, beautiful space designed around your life, with a lighter footprint.

For more information on the technical process involved, talk to us today.