About the ZCA2020 Buildings Plan
The ZCA2020 Buildings Plan aims to demonstrate that there are no technical barriers to zero emission buildings in Australia. The Buildings Plan will also seek to quantify the maximum reduction in energy consumption achievable by implementing cost effective energy efficiency measures in all existing and new buildings.
Broadly speaking, this is achieved through a planned energy efficiency retrofit of the existing building stock, a zero carbon low energy building standard for new buildings, onsite renewable energy generation, and electrifying current gas appliances.
This report will not be aiming to make each building energy self-sufficient (i.e. zero net energy consumption) as each building will connect to a 100% renewable energy grid as outlined in the ZCA2020 Stationary Energy Plan. However, it will identify the maximum feasible contribution from distributed onsite electricity generation using solar photovoltaic and some small wind turbines.
The report will require collaboration between relevant businesses, industry bodies, all levels of government, and academic institutions to draw upon all existing knowledge, experience, research, and data.
From initial work it is expected the Buildings Plan will comprise the following components:
- The most comprehensive compilation and assessment of all categories of Australia’s existing building stock across all climate zones.
- Review of multiple case studies of successful building retrofits and characterise energy savings, cost and efficacy of each method applied.
- Review and judgement of commercially available technologies and methods for achieving energy efficiencies and for onsite heat and electricity generation.
- Proposed viable blueprint for energy efficient retrofits on each building sub-category in each climate zone.
- Proposed minimum mandatory standards for all new buildings to be zero carbon and low energy consuming.
- Quantification of required resources to implement plan and capacity to roll out process, including timeline, embodied energy and emissions, as well as identify potential recyclable waste.
- Estimated investment costs and expected savings from implementing the Buildings Plan.
The expected publication date for the ZCA2020 Buildings Plan is August 2011.
The guiding principles of ZCA 2020 include:
- Australia's energy is provided entirely from renewable sources at the end of the transition period.
- All technological solutions employed are from proven, reliable technology which is commercially available.
- The security and reliability of Australia's energy supply is maintained or enhanced by the transition.
- Food and water security are maintained or enhanced by the transition.
- Australians continue to enjoy a high standard of living.
- Social equity is maintained or enhanced by the transition.
- Other environmental indices are maintained or enhanced by the transition.
ZCA2020 Buildings Plan Presentations
Zero Carbon Buildings, presented by Richard Denby for the Beyond Zero Emissions Discussion Group in September 2009, click here to download (8.0 MB).
How you can contribute to the Buildings Plan
Provide content for our research database
Beyond Zero Emissions are developing a research database of Australian buildings for the Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Buildings Plan. Examples of relevant building stock data include the following:
- Use/function/purpose
- Size (GFA/NLA in m2, no. of storeys)
- Location (city, climate zone)
- Age (years since construction/retrofit)
- Construction type (structure, cladding, mechanical systems)
- Energy intensity (current/projected)
- Onsite heat (current/projected)
- Indoor climate conditions
Option 1 - Contribute general data
Data will be pooled and used to inform the building types used for analysis. Individual buildings would not be identifiable in this data set.
Option 2 - Provide a Case Study
Energy efficient retrofits and high performing new buildings are encouraged to submit their findings to our project. Suitable Case Studies will be showcased in the final report with prior consent of the building owner.
If you or your organisation can contribute to our research database please let us know by email: trent@beyondzeroemissions.org
Join the team
The Buildings Plan team has two meetings per month on Monday evenings from 6.30 to 8.00 pm. The meetings are held in Melbourne, usually at the Beyond Zero Emissions office in Fitzroy. We also host our meetings on Skype to include contributors from all around Australia. If you would like to be included in our next meeting (in person or online) please contact trent@beyondzeroemissions.org
ZCA2020 Buildings Plan contributors work independently between meetings or in collaboration with other team members. Currently we have working groups focussing on three areas of research: Residential Buildings; Non-Residential Buildings and Distributed Energy. Our project is developed online using a Wiki site where all research and data is compiled for review.
A diverse and exciting team is already working on the Buildings Plan; however we are always keen to hear from others who have time to contribute to our research.
Specific expert contributions
The Buildings Plan will involve expert contributions in many areas relating to our specific calculations and forecasting.
If your organisation is interested in providing expert services for any component of the Buildings Plan (and is not currently in discussions with our team) please contact Trent Hawkins or Heidi Lee at Beyond Zero Emissions (email details below).
Project Contacts
To find out more about our work please contact:
Trent Hawkins, Project Director: trent@beyondzeroemissions.org
Phuong Le, Research Coordinator: phuong@beyondzeroemissions.org
