Zero carbon buildings achieve high energy performance through integrated design and technology

Abstract The global construction sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable building practices. Zero-carbon buildings (ZCBs) offer a promising solution by integrating renewable energy systems with energy-efficient design strategies. This study conducts a comparative analysis of three pioneering ZCB case studies—Bullitt Center (USA), Powerhouse Brattørkaia (Norway), and Council House 2 (Australia)—to evaluate the integration of passive design features, smart technologies, advanced materials, and energy storage systems across diverse climatic and functional contexts. The results demonstrate that context-specific applications of design and technology can achieve zero and positive energy performance, with energy generation exceeding consumption by up to 200% and carbon emission reductions reaching 87%. In this study, ‘zero-carbon’ refers primarily to operational carbon neutrality, with consideration of embodied carbon in materials and construction where data was available. Carbon offsets are excluded from the scope. Key success factors include interdisciplinary collaboration, occupant engagement, and lifecycle carbon accounting. A conceptual framework is proposed to assess the alignment of design and technology in ZCBs, offering actionable insights for future projects and supporting the global transition toward climate-resilient infrastructure.