Towards net-zero buildings in developing countries − a simplified approach for assessment

Construction projects are associated with huge amount of embodied and operational energy. Therefore, the construction industry contributes significantly to the emission of energy related greenhouse gases (GHGs). Adopting sustainable green construction and the concept of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) could reduce GHGs emissions from the construction sector and lower its contribution to global warming. However, implementing NZEB comes with different challenges, especially for developing countries. One of the main challenges is the lack of interest from landlords, property developers and investors. Motivating and empowering construction stakeholders to embrace the NZEB approach are crucial for developing countries aiming to lower their GHGs emissions. However, assessment and verification of NZEB face challenges in these countries due to the absence of viable assessment methods that consider local and national needs. Simplification of the process could encourage property developers to be engaged and adopt the concept of NZEB. This paper aims to propose a simplified approach for the assessment of sustainability of buildings. It provides property developers and stakeholders with a viable and affordable tool that produce timely results to demonstrate the sustainability of their new developments. The proposed approach eliminates several costly and time-consuming aspects and focuses on main factors within the three primary phases of construction projects; design, construction and operation. The implementation of the proposed simplified approach is illustrated, and it has been shown that the approach is viable, simple and easy to apply. It could lead to significant savings in energy and reduction in the associated GHGs.