Net Zero Now

"'The seething underpinnings of life's flash and filigree..." Those words from Edward Hoagland's new book of essays, Sex and the River Styx, are an apt description of all of his work. His eloquence frees readers from nostalgia for the "old days" as he writes of life's variety—from elephants' toes to the red of a rooster's comb."

—Paula Fox, author of News From the World

In a nation where traditional buildings consume roughly forty percent of the total fossil energy output, the interest in net-zero building is growing enormously among designers and consumers interested in addressing climate change, creating greater energy efficiency, and achieving long-term savings.

In Net Zero Now, award-winning, sustainable architect Bill Maclay charts the path for designers and builders interested in exploring the new frontier of green design—net-zero-energy structures that produce as much energy as they consume and are carbon neutral. The new threshold for green building is not just low energy—it’s net-zero energy.

What is a net-zero building? The simplest definition is: A building that consumes no more energy than it produces.

Maclay, a designer whose buildings have achieved high-performance goals at affordable costs, explains the following net-zero concepts in usable detail:

• The value of a net-zero future;
• Net-zero building metrics;
• Integrated design practices;
• Renewable energy options; and,
• Lessons learned on net-zero team building.

Additionally, designers and builders will find a wealth of state-of-the-art information on:

• Air, water, and vapor barriers;
• Embodied energy;
• Residential and commercial net-zero standards;
• Monitoring and commissioning;
• Insulation options; and,
• Cost analysis.

Net Zero Now includes comprehensive instruction drawings and several case studies, which include institutional buildings, commercial projects, historical renovations, and homes—and some of which won awards for their achievements in design and energy efficiency. Both new-building and renovation projects are covered in detail. This guide is geared toward professionals exploring net-zero design, but also suitable for nonprofessionals seeking ideas and strategies for net-zero options that are beautiful and renewably powered.

About the Author

William Maclay

Bill Maclay, founder and president of Maclay Architects, pursued architecture as a career in order to make the world a better place. He has been a lecturer and educator at colleges, universities, and conferences focused on environmental design. He is also past president of the Vermont Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and has served on the board of directors of the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, among other organizations.

Maclay and his firm have long been involved in research on all aspects of environmental design—including sustainable design, indoor air quality, building ...

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