Net Zero Architects & Design

TBDA has designed many Net Zero projects, including homes, multi-family buildings, and park district buildings. We define operational Net Zero buildings as those that produce as much energy as they use in the course of a year.

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NetZero Green Building: What To Know

While operation energy is vitally important, we also consider embodied energy in our material selections, opting for low-carbon and carbon-sequestering products such as wood, cellulose, straw, and hemp for structure and insulation instead of petroleum-based foam insulations, concrete, and steel.

With energy-producing buildings, battery storage is an option for the highest levels of resilience: with a solar array feeding a battery bank, a building can exist off-grid in low-power mode, employing smart panels and app-based controls for mechanical systems.

Who We Work With

Commercial, institutional, and residential buildings can be Net Zero, provided they have good solar access on-site.

The TBDA Process

Starting our architectural design with the conservation-based Passive approach, we then calculate how much renewable energy is needed to offset predicted annual consumption. We carefully design roofs to accommodate sufficient solar PV panels. Once the design concept is set, we connect owners with solar vendors to create a specific proposal, including applicable incentives and return on investment calculations.

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