Zero Net Energy Building Becoming Commonplace in Multifamily via Property Management Insider

As building owners and property management companies strive to be energy efficient and reduce costs, reaching for LEED and ENERGY STAR certifications may be more akin to just keeping up with the Joneses than getting a leg up on the competition. Harnessing renewable energy and zeroing out consumption will be among the top 10 megatrends in the commercial building industry – and possibly for multifamily – for 2013.

Zero Net Energy Buildings: Practical Options for Multifamily
LEED green building consultant Jerry Yudelson predicts zero net energy buildings will be increasingly commonplace in both multifamily and commercial sectors this year as developers move to gain marketplace advantage with new designs. All eyes are upon Seattle’s Bullitt Center, a 50,000-square-foot zero net energy building touted to be the greenest in the world, expected to open in April. The building is expected to achieve Living Building Challenge status, which requires self-sufficiency for energy and water for at least 12 continuous months, as well as meeting rigorous standards for green materials and for the quality of its indoor environment.

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