When it comes to reducing your impact on the environment, there are a number of things you can do. One of the most important is to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. But what does that mean? In the UK, the government has set two different standards for homes – carbon neutral and net zero. So, what’s the difference?
Before that, let’s understand both standards briefly.
Carbon neutral homes are ones that produce zero carbon emissions. This can be achieved through a number of different measures, such as using renewable energy sources, enhancing insulation or installing low-energy lightbulbs.
Net zero homes go one step further and actually remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they release into it. This can be done through things like planting trees or using green technology.
What’s The Difference Between Carbon Neutral And Net Zero In The UK?
As more people become concerned about climate change, they are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One way to do this is by offsetting their carbon emissions. Carbon offsetting is a way to compensate for your emissions by investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere.
There are two main types of carbon offsets:
- Carbon offsets that result in carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere. These include planting trees or investing in renewable energy projects.
- Carbon offsets that prevent emissions from happening in the first place. These include projects that help people switch to more efficient stoves or lighting.
The main difference between carbon neutral and net zero is that carbon neutral means offsetting your emissions so that they have no net impact on the atmosphere. Net zero means going one step further and reducing your emissions as well as offsetting them.
The UK has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This means that any emissions we do produce will need to be offset by an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere or avoided altogether.
There are many ways to offset your carbon emissions. You can buy carbon offsets from companies that invest in projects that reduce greenhouse gases, or you can take action yourself to reduce your emissions and offset the rest.
To be truly effective at combating climate change, we need to do both – reduce our emissions and offset the rest. By working together, we can make a difference and help to protect our planet for future generations.
What About Net Zero And How Do They Differ?
So, a net zero building is one that is highly energy efficient and produces on-site renewable energy to offset its annual energy use. A passive house goes beyond this by ensuring that the building envelope is so well insulated and airtight that very little heating or cooling is required in the first place.
A passive solar building takes this a step further by designing the building to make the most of solar gain in winter and minimize it in summer.
Passive solar buildings are nothing new – they’ve been around for centuries. The traditional ‘sundial house’ is a good example of passive solar design, with its south-facing windows and thick walls to store heat. Today, passive solar design is being used in all types of buildings, from homes to office blocks.