--- title: Zero-emission buildings (ZEB) – utopia or feasible? description: Zero-emission buildings are not a distant vision. They are already taking shape. And it is through collaboration that they are feasible. image: https://blog.swegon.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_1809274095.jpeg --- [![](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/logo.svg?v=3)](https://www.swegon.com/uk/) Menu - [Solutions & services](https://www.swegon.com/uk/solutions-and-services/) - [Products>](https://www.swegon.com/uk/products/) - [References & Insights](https://www.swegon.com/uk/references-and-insights/) - [Support & Software](https://www.swegon.com/uk/support/) - [Sustainability](https://www.swegon.com/uk/sustainability/) - [Why Swegon?](https://www.swegon.com/uk/why-swegon/) - [Product Search](https://www.swegon.com/uk/product-search-result/) - [Document Search](https://www.swegon.com/uk/support/find-documents/) - [Careers](https://www.swegon.com/uk/careers/) - United Kingdom - [Contact](https://www.swegon.com/uk/contact/) ## Choose a market [Or visit our global site](https://www.swegon.com) - [Belgium - French](https://www.swegon.com/fr-be/) - [Belgium - Dutch](https://www.swegon.com/nl-be/) - [Denmark](https://www.swegon.com/da/) - [Finland](https://www.swegon.com/fi/) - [France](https://www.swegon.com/fr/) - [Italy](https://www.swegon.com/it/) - [Germany](https://www.swegon.com/de/) - [Norway](https://www.swegon.com/no/) - [Poland](https://www.swegon.com/pl/) - [Spain](https://www.swegon.com/es/) - [Sweden](https://www.swegon.com/sv/) - [Switzerland - German](https://www.swegon.com/de-ch/) - [Switzerland - French](https://www.swegon.com/fr-ch/) - [Switzerland - Italian](https://www.swegon.com/it-ch/) - [United Kingdom](https://www.swegon.com/uk/) - [United States](https://www.swegonnorthamerica.com) - [Canada](http://swegonnorthamerica.com/) Explore ## Filter articles ### By topics - [Cooling & Heating (40)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/cooling-heating) - [Indoor Climate Knowledge (22)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/indoor-climate-knowledge) - [Air Handling Units (20)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/air-handling-units) - [Smoke and Fire Dampers (19)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/smoke-and-fire-dampers) - [Room Units (18)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/room-units) - [Indoor Climate Knowledge (15)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/indoor-climate-knowledge) - [Energy Efficiency (13)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/energy-efficiency) - [News (13)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/news) - [Tips and Advice (13)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/tips-and-advice) - [sustainability (13)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/sustainability) - [Knowledge (11)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/knowledge) - [Ventilation (10)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/ventilation) - [Energy Efficiency (8)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/energy-efficiency) - [Service (7)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/service) - [Guide (5)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/guide) - [Humidity (5)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/humidity) - [Heat pumps (3)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/heat-pumps) - [BIM (2)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/bim) - [Diffusion (2)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/diffusion) - [Services & Connectivity (2)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/services-connectivity) - [acoustics (2)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/acoustics) > Fler ### By authors - [![Ajeeb Mohammed](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_20230113_160922.jpg?width=75&name=IMG_20230113_160922.jpg) Ajeeb Mohammed 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/ajeeb-mohammed) - [![Alberto Ferrandi](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ferrandi.png?width=75&name=ferrandi.png) Alberto Ferrandi 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/alberto-ferrandi) - [![Alberto Frison](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alberto.jpg?width=75&name=alberto.jpg) Alberto Frison 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/alberto-frison) - [![Alessandro Lora](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lora.webp?width=75&name=lora.webp) Alessandro Lora 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/alessandro-lora) - [![Alessandro Lora](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lora.webp?width=75&name=lora.webp) Alessandro Lora 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/alessandro-lora) - [![Alessandro Pinato](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alessandro.png?width=75&name=alessandro.png) Alessandro Pinato 7](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/alessandro-pinato) - [![Anders de Maré](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/anders%20de%20mare_1-1.jpg?width=75&name=anders%20de%20mare_1-1.jpg) Anders de Maré 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/anders-de-maré) - [![Andreas Örje Wellstam](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Finland%20News/Kampanjat,%20uutiskirjeet/Andreas%20%C3%96rje%20Wellstam_S.jpg?width=75&name=Andreas%20%C3%96rje%20Wellstam_S.jpg) Andreas Örje Wellstam 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/andreas-örje-wellstam) - [![Andrew Collard](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Andrew%20Collard_edited.jpg?width=75&name=Andrew%20Collard_edited.jpg) Andrew Collard 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/andrew-collard) - [![Andy Bott](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/me.jpg?width=75&name=me.jpg) Andy Bott 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/andy-bott) - [![Andy Dines](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon%20UKI/20260519_095206.jpg?width=75&name=20260519_095206.jpg) Andy Dines 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/andy-dines) - [![Börje Lehrman](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/SE-SV%20-%20PRO%20-%20BACV/B%C3%B6rje_Lehrman.jpg?width=75&name=B%C3%B6rje_Lehrman.jpg) Börje Lehrman 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/börje-lehrman-1) - [![Carinne Grandjean](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/carinneg.webp?width=75&name=carinneg.webp) Carinne Grandjean 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/carinne-grandjean) - [![Carl-Ola Danielsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/1494416201_4f37bc2792.jpg?width=75&name=1494416201_4f37bc2792.jpg) Carl-Ola Danielsson 3](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/carl-ola-danielsson) - [![Carl-Ola Danielsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Carl%20Ola%20Danielsson.png?width=75&name=Carl%20Ola%20Danielsson.png) Carl-Ola Danielsson 3](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/carl-ola-danielsson) - [![Caroline Jacobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg?width=75&name=Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg) Caroline Jacobsson 13](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/caroline-jacobsson) - [![Caroline Jacobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg?width=75&name=Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg) Caroline Jacobsson 13](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/caroline-jacobsson) - [![Christoffer Lindström](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Christoffer_blogg.png?width=75&name=Christoffer_blogg.png) Christoffer Lindström 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/christoffer-lindström) - [![Dan Jones](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dan_jones.jpg?width=75&name=dan_jones.jpg) Dan Jones 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/dan-jones) - [![Darren Peel](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Darren.jpg?width=75&name=Darren.jpg) Darren Peel 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/darren-peel) - [![Dave Harding](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dave_harding.jpg?width=75&name=dave_harding.jpg) Dave Harding 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/david-harding) - [![Dene Kent](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dene%20Kent%20Swegon.jpg?width=75&name=Dene%20Kent%20Swegon.jpg) Dene Kent 6](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/dene-kent) - [![Elvis Kokot](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/elviskokot.png?width=75&name=elviskokot.png) Elvis Kokot 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/elvis-kokot) - [![Fabio Polo](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg?width=75&name=Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg) Fabio Polo 7](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/fabio-polo) - [![Fabio Polo](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg?width=75&name=Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg) Fabio Polo 7](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/fabio-polo) - [![Federica Serena](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Serena.webp?width=75&name=Serena.webp) Federica Serena 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/federica-serena) - [![Francesco Artusi](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Francesco%20Artusi%20CUT.jpg?width=75&name=Francesco%20Artusi%20CUT.jpg) Francesco Artusi 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/francesco-artusi) - [Frank Schönfelder 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/frank-schönfelder) - [![François Jouvray](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fran%C3%A7ois%20Jouvray%20swegon.jpg?width=75&name=Fran%C3%A7ois%20Jouvray%20swegon.jpg) François Jouvray 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/françois-jouvray) - [![Hannah Finning](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%20(5).jpg?width=75&name=Image%20(5).jpg) Hannah Finning 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/hannah-finning) - [![James Moore](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/download.jpg?width=75&name=download.jpg) James Moore 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/james-moore) - [![Jan Scheuring](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Jan-1.jpeg?width=75&name=Photo_Jan-1.jpeg) Jan Scheuring 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/jan-scheuring) - [![Jim Collings](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon%20UKI/Jim%20Collings.jpeg?width=75&name=Jim%20Collings.jpeg) Jim Collings 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/jim-collings) - [![John Lindblom](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/johnl.png?width=75&name=johnl.png) John Lindblom 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/john-lindblom) - [![John Wibrand](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/John%20Wibrand.jpg?width=75&name=John%20Wibrand.jpg) John Wibrand 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/john-wibrand) - [![John Wibrand](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/John%20Wibrand.jpg?width=75&name=John%20Wibrand.jpg) John Wibrand 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/john-wibrand) - [![Josh Emerson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg?width=75&name=Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg) Josh Emerson 4](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/josh-emerson) - [![Josh Emerson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg?width=75&name=Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg) Josh Emerson 4](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/josh-emerson) - [![Luca Filippetto](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Luca%20Filippetto%20Hubspot.jpg?width=75&name=Luca%20Filippetto%20Hubspot.jpg) Luca Filippetto 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/luca-filippetto) - [![Luca Zordan](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lucazordan.png?width=75&name=lucazordan.png) Luca Zordan 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/luca-zordan-1) - [![Magnus Andersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/magnus%20andersson_550x550%20(1).jpg?width=75&name=magnus%20andersson_550x550%20(1).jpg) Magnus Andersson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/magnus-andersson) - [![Malin Höij](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/malinh.webp?width=75&name=malinh.webp) Malin Höij 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/malin-höij) - [![Malin Höij](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/malinh.webp?width=75&name=malinh.webp) Malin Höij 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/malin-höij) - [![Markku Palola](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Markku_Palola_50x83.jpg?width=75&name=Markku_Palola_50x83.jpg) Markku Palola 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/markku-palola) - [![Markus Schomaker](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon%20UKI/Markus%20Schomaker.jpg?width=75&name=Markus%20Schomaker.jpg) Markus Schomaker 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/markus-schomaker) - [![Martin Brady](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1569580194632.jpg?width=75&name=1569580194632.jpg) Martin Brady 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/martin-brady) - [![Martin Ottersten](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Martin_Ottersten.jpg?width=75&name=Martin_Ottersten.jpg) Martin Ottersten 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/martin-ottersten) - [![Martin Ottersten](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Martin_Ottersten.jpg?width=75&name=Martin_Ottersten.jpg) Martin Ottersten 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/martin-ottersten) - [![Martin Procter](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MP.jpg?width=75&name=MP.jpg) Martin Procter 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/martin-procter) - [![Michael Ward](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Michael_Ward_photo.jpg?width=75&name=Michael_Ward_photo.jpg) Michael Ward 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/michael-ward) - [![Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg?width=75&name=Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg) Mikael Börjesson 10](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) - [![Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg?width=75&name=Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg) Mikael Börjesson 10](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) - [![Mike Ward](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Michael_Ward_photo.jpg?width=75&name=Michael_Ward_photo.jpg) Mike Ward 4](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mike-ward) - [![Mirko Sauvan](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon_Mirko%20Sauvan_web_3.jpg?width=75&name=Swegon_Mirko%20Sauvan_web_3.jpg) Mirko Sauvan 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mirko-sauvan-1) - [![Morten von Sydow](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Morten.jpg?width=75&name=Morten.jpg) Morten von Sydow 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/morten-von-sydow) - [![Niklas Jacobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/authorniklas.png?width=75&name=authorniklas.png) Niklas Jacobsson 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/niklas-jacobsson) - [![Owen Crawford](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/0%20(1).jpg?width=75&name=0%20(1).jpg) Owen Crawford 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/owen-crawford) - [![Paola Moschini (Guest author)](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/forfattare.png?width=75&name=forfattare.png) Paola Moschini (Guest author) 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/paola-moschini) - [![Paolo Dalle Fratte](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Paolo%20profile%20image.jpg?width=75&name=Paolo%20profile%20image.jpg) Paolo Dalle Fratte 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/paolo-dalle-fratte) - [![Per-Åke Ottemark](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1521139778203.jpg?width=75&name=1521139778203.jpg) Per-Åke Ottemark 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/per-âke-ottemark) - [![Peter Faruqi Nicholas](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Peter%20Faruqi.jpg?width=75&name=Peter%20Faruqi.jpg) Peter Faruqi Nicholas 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/peter-faruqi-nicholas) - [![Philip Andersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Philip_Andersson_pressbild_small_webb.jpg?width=75&name=Philip_Andersson_pressbild_small_webb.jpg) Philip Andersson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/philip-andersson) - [![Robert Flaherty](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RF%20photo.jpg?width=75&name=RF%20photo.jpg) Robert Flaherty 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/robert-flaherty) - [![Robert Siverby](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3)-4.png?width=75&name=MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3)-4.png) Robert Siverby 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/robert-siverby) - [![Ryan Fossey](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon%20UKI/Personal%20photo%201.jpg?width=75&name=Personal%20photo%201.jpg) Ryan Fossey 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/ryan-fossey) - [![Shannon Jezzard](https://blog.swegon.com/hubfs/1564654168812.jfif) Shannon Jezzard 3](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/shannon-jezzard) - [![Stefan Lay](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1517033472060.jpg?width=75&name=1517033472060.jpg) Stefan Lay 6](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/stefan-lay) - [![Steve Gore](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1516820800199.jpg?width=75&name=1516820800199.jpg) Steve Gore 10](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/steve-gore) - [![Swegon](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LinkedinSwegonlogo-1.jpg?width=75&name=LinkedinSwegonlogo-1.jpg) Swegon 10](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/swegon-0) - [Swegon Air Academy 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/swegon-air-academy) - [Eur Ing Professor Tim Dwyer 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/tim-dwyer) - [![Timo Schreck](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Timo%20Schreck.jpg?width=75&name=Timo%20Schreck.jpg) Timo Schreck 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/timo-schreck) - [![Tobias Nordström](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TobiasNordstromPHOTO.jpg?width=75&name=TobiasNordstromPHOTO.jpg) Tobias Nordström 2](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/tobias-nordström) - [![Toby Young](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Image2.jpeg?width=75&name=Image2.jpeg) Toby Young 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/toby-young) - [![Tony Olsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tony%20Olsson.webp?width=75&name=Tony%20Olsson.webp) Tony Olsson 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/tony-olsson) - [![Tony Olsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tony%20Olsson.webp?width=75&name=Tony%20Olsson.webp) Tony Olsson 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/tony-olsson) - [![Tony Pettersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tonyp.jpg?width=75&name=tonyp.jpg) Tony Pettersson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/tony-pettersson) - [![Welat Han](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Welat%20Han.jpg?width=75&name=Welat%20Han.jpg) Welat Han 3](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/welat-han) - [![William Lawrance](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/William_lawrance.jpg?width=75&name=William_lawrance.jpg) William Lawrance 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/william-lawrance) - [![William Lawrance](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/SE-SV%20-%20PRO%20-%20BACV/William%20Lawrance.jpg?width=75&name=William%20Lawrance.jpg) William Lawrance 5](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/william-lawrance) - [![Åsa Norén-Lundh](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/A%CC%8Asa%20Nore%CC%81n-Lundh.webp?width=75&name=A%CC%8Asa%20Nore%CC%81n-Lundh.webp) Åsa Norén-Lundh 4](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/åsa-norén-lundh) - [![Åsa Norén-Lundh](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/SE-SV%20-%20PRO%20-%20BACV/%C3%85sa%20Nor%C3%A9n-Lundh.png?width=75&name=%C3%85sa%20Nor%C3%A9n-Lundh.png) Åsa Norén-Lundh 4](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/åsa-norén-lundh) - [![Åsa Norén-Lundh](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AsaLN.jpg?width=75&name=AsaLN.jpg) Åsa Norén-Lundh 1](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/åsa-norén-lundh-1) Explore - - - [All About Indoor Climate](https://blog.swegon.com/uk?hsLang=en-gb) Subscribe Share - - - Explore Share Subscribe [« go back](https://blog.swegon.com/uk) # Zero-emission buildings (ZEB) – utopia or feasible? [Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) Jun 24, 2026 Zero-emission buildings (ZEB) – utopia or feasible? 4:07 **The concept of zero-emission buildings (ZEB) has for a long time fluctuated between being a vision and becoming 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? And if the latter, then how do we 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-efficiently 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](https://www.swegon.com/uk/sustainability/re3/), 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](https://www.swegon.com/uk/sustainability/re3/). Topics: - [sustainability](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/sustainability) - - - [![Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg?width=200&name=Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg)](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) [Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) Mikael Börjesson is responsible for strategic planning of competence development throughout the Swegon Group. Mikael has a solid knowledge of ventilation and building automation and he is passionate about education and competence issues, both within Swegon and the industry as a whole. ## Recommended reading - [Cooling & Heating](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/cooling-heating) - [sustainability](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/sustainability) ### [Luca Filippetto](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/luca-filippetto) ## [Our experts explain Europe's adoption of propane as a refrigerant](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/our-experts-explain-europes-adoption-of-propane-as-a-refrigerant-1?hsLang=en-gb) The transition to more sustainable alternatives in the HVAC industry … - [sustainability](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/sustainability) - [Indoor Climate Knowledge](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/indoor-climate-knowledge) ### [Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/mikael-börjesson) ## [Beyond energy efficiency, the revised EPBD puts IEQ in focus](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/beyond-energy-efficiency-the-revised-epbd-puts-ieq-in-focus?hsLang=en-gb) The latest revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive … - [Air Handling Units](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/air-handling-units) - [sustainability](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/tag/sustainability) ### [Martin Ottersten](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/author/martin-ottersten) ## [A Wooden Air Handling Unit – Redefining the Industry?](https://blog.swegon.com/uk/a-wooden-air-handling-unit-redefining-the-industry?hsLang=en-gb) Considering todays many challenging sustainability targets, it is no … Get updates from the blog directly to your inbox. #### Get to know us - [Why Swegon?](https://www.swegon.com/uk/why-swegon/) - [Solutions & services](https://www.swegon.com/uk/solutions-and-services/) - [Products](https://www.swegon.com/uk/products/) - [References & Insights](https://www.swegon.com/uk/references-and-insights/) - [Support & Software](https://www.swegon.com/uk/support/) - [BlueBox Chiller ERP](http://www.blueboxcooling.com/) - [Sustainability](https://www.swegon.com/uk/sustainability/) #### More Swegon - [About us](https://www.swegon.com/uk/about-swegon/) - [Our Brands](https://www.swegon.com/uk/about-swegon/our-brands/) - [Contact](https://www.swegon.com/uk/contact/) - [Careers](https://www.swegon.com/uk/careers/) - [Information for suppliers](https://www.swegon.com/uk/contact/suppliers/) - [Swegon Designer Suite](https://sds.swegon.com/) - [Swegon Air Academy](https://www.swegonairacademy.com/en/) #### Subscribe to our blog [![](https://www.swegon.com/siteassets/logos/swegon-logo-white.svg)](https://www.swegon.com/uk/) Swegon Ltd, 5 Charterpoint Way, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Leicestershire LE65 1NF - [Privacy statement](https://www.swegon.com/uk/privacy-policy/) - [Cookies](https://www.swegon.com/uk/cookies/) - [Processing personal data](https://www.swegon.com/uk/privacy-policy/processing-personal-data/) - [Vulnerability disclosure policy](https://www.swegon.com/uk/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/) - [![Youtube](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/SwegonAB) - [![Linkedin](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/swegon-ab/) - [![Facebook](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/swegongroup)