International Approaches to Net-Zero Energy Housing

June 14, 2012 at 4 pm ET

Presented by Jeff Culp, the Super E House Program

Download presentation here. Members can access the recording here.

Dozens of demonstration homes have been constructed proving that net-zero energy housing can be built.  So why isn’t net-zero energy housing common?  “Cost,” is the most common answer, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

In fact, the reasons net-zero hasn’t been widely adopted are similar everywhere, and no where is the reason “technology.”  The technology does exist and is widely available.  Barriers to net-zero energy, and even low energy housing are much more systemic.

As it turns out, the least developed countries are actually more likely to introduce low-energy and net-zero-energy housing than more developed countries.  This presentation examines how lessons learned in net-zero developments in the Asia-Pacific Partnership (Canada, the US, China, South Korea, Japan, India and Australia) are assisting Latin American countries in taking a holistic approach to the development of a national approach to low-energy, near-zero energy and net-zero energy housing.

The Speaker

Jeff Culp administered the Asia-Pacific Partnership Net-Zero Energy Housing project which constructed net-zero projects in four Asia-Pacific countries and Mexico.  A long-time manager of Canada’s Super E® low-energy housing program, he is currently assisting Latin American countries develop roadmaps for low-carbon housing on a national scale.  Well-versed on both the policy and technical sides of low-energy housing, he is also a long-time member of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s International Training Team.