Net Zero

This tool encourages sustainable building practices and supports the transition towards a low-carbon future in the built environment.

A framework designed to evaluate and certify buildings based on their net zero carbon emissions. It assesses various aspects of a building’s design, construction, and operation to ensure that it minimises carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle, ultimately aiming for a balance between the amount of carbon emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

Join us in accomplishing our net zero carbon objective

All new buildings
to achieve net zero carbon operation by

2030

100% of buildings
to achieve net zero carbon operation by

2050

We share this goal with the World Green Building Council and aim to attain it through more than mere reduction – we strive for regeneration. Our Net Zero Carbon rating tool is in line with global efforts to combat climate change and limit global warming to below 1.5ºC.

What are Net Zero or Net Positive rated projects?

These projects encompass both new and existing buildings, as well as fit-out projects. Certification is granted to projects that surpass partial reductions, demonstrating their commitment to achieving complete neutrality or even positive redress of environmental impacts.

Projects are able to achieve Net Zero/Net Positive Ratings in:

Carbon

Water

Waste

Ecology

Net Zero/Net Positive is a methodology that can accelerate GBCSA’s end goal of complete market transformation and is about inspiring the end goal now.

1 NET ZERO: CARBON

This means a highly energy-efficient building. It gets most of its energy from renewable sources which are ideally on-site, and potentially off-site. The goal is to have no net carbon emissions each year. In some cases, it might even produce more energy than it uses.

2 NET ZERO: WATER

Here, we're talking about a building that's designed to use significantly less water, both in its construction and ongoing operation. It also treats, recycles and reuses water so that the amount it uses matches the amount it produces. In some cases, it might even produce more water than it uses.

3 NET ZERO: WASTE

This is about making a building that excels at reducing, reusing, and recovering its waste. This waste would be converted into valuable resources with zero solid waste sent to landfills. In some cases, the building might even take waste from other places and put it to good use, instead of just dumping it in a landfill.

4 NET ZERO: ECOLOGY

This is about the impact of a building on its surrounding ecology. For new sites (greenfield sites), this means not harming the natural surroundings when building so that they retain their ecological value. And for developments on existing sites (brownfield sites),  it's about improving the environment and increasing the ecological value so that the effect is net positive.

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Net Zero Principles

GBCSA has developed a set of pathways for projects to pursue net zero, based on international best practice:

Prioritise on-site efficiencies to minimise demand
Prioritise on-site supply solutions
Find appropriate off-site supply solutions
Only after the above three have been fully explored and optimised, make use of responsibly sourced offsets as a last resort, understanding this is a transitionary step.

Understanding the Net Zero Rating Tool

GBCSA offers two distinct Net Zero Carbon ratings:

Modelled ratings are based on predicted consumption over a 12-month period, according to the building’s design.
Measured ratings are operational assessments for existing buildings, relying on actual performance data over the same timeframe.

Level 1 and Level 2 Ratings:

The Net Zero Carbon certification distinguishes between two levels based on the carbon measurement boundary. Level 2 extends beyond Level 1 by incorporating not only base building emissions but also operational energy use by occupants. Your AP is best positioned to advise which Level is most appropriate for the particular point in your buildings’ sustainability journey and can outline what is included, or excluded, in each of these in detail.

South Africa’s National Development Plan Vision 2030 details that the plan is to “Progressively strengthen the energy efficiency criteria set out in the South African National Standard 204 to achieve a zero carbon building standard by 2030.”

We’re here to support your green building journey

Our Certification FAQ might be useful, or reach out to us for any queries.

We are with you every step of the way.