Many governments in the rich world want to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from constructing and using buildings. They have created rules forcing developers to build new projects to “zero energy” or “zero carbon” standards. Through a combination of energy-efficiency measures, on-site renewable heat or power generation and buying offsets elsewhere, new buildings are supposed to cover all their energy requirements from renewable sources.
From January 1st 2019 all new public-sector buildings in EU countries must be built to “Nearly Zero-Energy” standards. Still, Elrond Burrell, an architect based in New Zealand, questions whether the zero-energy standards are sensible.
A few wooden skyscrapers are rising. Amsterdam and Vienna are already building wooden towers the height of Mjostarnet in Brumunddal (Norway)...
