Carbon Neutral Design

Carbon Neutral Design

Carbon Neutral Design is a method in climate architecture where every part of a building's life, from making the materials to using the building, is planned to keep the amount of carbon dioxide released as low as possible. Designers use local materials that need less energy to move, choose building shapes that use sunlight and wind to help heat or cool spaces, and pick systems that use renewable energy. A new fact is that some designers now use special computer programs to measure the carbon footprint of each design choice before building starts, which helps make better decisions early in the process. This way, the building can reach carbon goals before any construction begins, making it easier to meet climate targets.

carbon footprint architecture, passive solar design, renewable energy buildings, embodied carbon, sustainable building materials, life cycle assessment

— Kevin Green