The 5 Myths of Zero Carbon Design
- 1.25 Hours
- LU/HSW
This course dismantles five common misconceptions that often derail sustainable design efforts to provide architects with a more practical framework for achieving buildings that are closer to true net zero carbon. Participants will learn why net zero carbon is fundamentally a design challenge—not just an engineering problem—and discover how early design decisions regarding building orientation, envelope optimization, and material selection impact future energy demand. Through real-world case studies, including the May Lee State Office Complex in Sacramento, the course shows how cost-effective net zero carbon design is achievable when sustainability strategies are integrated from the earliest project phases.
The course examines the limitations of relying on relatively high-tech solutions, and emphasizes the hierarchy of impact decisions have through the life of the project - reducing demand from the first design decisions. Participants will gain clarity on the distinction between net zero energy and net zero carbon, and an understanding of how whole-life carbon accounting—including embodied carbon from materials and operational energy—shapes truly sustainable design. By the end of this course, architects will be equipped to integrate zero carbon thinking into their projects, ask the right questions during project development, and advocate for design strategies that prioritize building performance over technological quick fixes.
Analyze how architectural design decisions—including building orientation, massing, and envelope optimization—can reduce energy demand by up to 70% and improve occupant thermal comfort.
Integrate early-phase sustainability strategies into project design to minimize or eliminate the added cost of reduced-carbon outcomes while maintaining building performance and occupant safety.
Distinguish between operational energy use and embodied carbon across building lifecycle phases, understanding how each impacts environmental health and public welfare.
Define net zero carbon buildings and understand the difference between net zero energy and net zero carbon, explaining how whole-life carbon accounting impacts building occupants and the environment.
Appreciate the qualities of form and space that zero net carbon design strategies enable in different climates - from generous canopies, to warm timber and solid massings.
