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The concept of zero-emission buildings (ZEB) has for long fluctuated between being a vision and become a reality. For some, it is a necessary standard for the future, for others an idealistic goal far away in time. As climate requirements tighten and new regulations spread across Europe, the following question is becoming increasingly real: Are ZEBs a utopia or feasible, if the latter, how to get there?
Mikael Börjesson, Future Solutions & Public Affairs Director at Swegon, has put his experience and expertise into this question and come to a conclusion.
In many ways, the solution is already within reach. When it comes to reducing operational emissions, the development has been rapid. Today's buildings can operate significantly more energy-efficient than back in the day thanks to smart controls, high-performance heat pumps, airtight building envelopes and advanced indoor climate and control systems. Technologies such as demand controlled ventilation, sensor networks and integrated systems show that buildings can already lower the energy consumption without compromising the indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
By integrating monitoring of temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), humidity and particles into daily operations, the indoor climate solutions can work proactively, optimise comfort and reduce buildings’ energy dependency. Subsequently, this reduces the operational emissions – a piece of the puzzle that is more often described as technically solved. At least in theory.
Operational emissions, only part of the story
The industry’s growing challenge is embodied carbon. The climate impact that occurs before a building is even occupied and that derives from materials, manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life waste management. These emissions can very well make up a major part of a building's total footprint. Therefore, a shift is currently taking place, going from linear models of make, use and waste to circular approaches.
Initiatives such as designing for a lower carbon footprint, extending a product’s lifespan through renovation, reuse and remanufacturing, are activities gathered under our RE:3 concept, and leading the way in this shift. These strategies are no longer experiments, but practical steps towards reducing the built-in climate impact of each component and system.
The regulations are also a driving force. The revision to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), national climate declarations and increasing demands from investors mean that transparency and measurability are becoming industry standards. Zero-emission targets are shifting from visionary projects to an expected level for future construction.
The biggest obstacle is not the technology itself, but the lack of integration. To achieve true zero emissions, architects, engineers, manufacturers, property owners and digital platforms need to work as a cohesive ecosystem. The technology exists – but it must be combined, optimised and controlled as a whole.
This means a shift from thinking in terms of products to thinking in entire solutions. A zero-emission building is not the sum of individual efficient components, but the result of how these interact over time. Transparency in data, collaboration models and long-term value creation will be central elements.
So, is zero-emission buildings a utopia or feasible?
The answer is that it is perfectly feasible – but it requires determination, cooperation and courage to break old ways of working. All the important parts are in place: energy-efficient systems, circular models, digital optimisation and a regulatory framework that drives development. The challenge lies in scaling and integrating them.
The zero-emission buildings of the future are not a distant vision. They are already taking shape. And it is through collaboration that we make them the norm.
Learn more about our circularity work at Swegon, gathered under the RE:3 concept.
