The transition to net zero energy (NZE) housing: An integrated approach to market, state, and other barriers

Abstract

To limit global warming, transitions in all sectors of activity to achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are imperative. Highly efficient net zero energy (NZE) homes that produce their own electricity from renewable sources are proposed as a solution to reduce energy use and GHG emissions from the residential sector. While the technological and economic feasibility of NZE building in cold climates has been demonstrated, its uptake in Canada has yet to take off. This study analyzes the structural barriers to the adoption of NZE building in lower-income and rural jurisdictions within a developed country. Based on a mixed-methods approach using a quantitative survey and semi-structured interviews, we develop an integrated model that suggests that while market barriers like cost and demand for NZE homes are the most significant, market changes alone cannot guarantee the wide-spread adoption of NZE building. Findings emphasize the key role of the state to instigate energy transition in the building sector, to ensure that NZE building rapidly delivers the necessary emissions reductions, and that the benefits of NZE homes are fairly distributed among all groups.