ER119 Pathways to net-zero residential buildings and urban communities in New Zealand (August 2025)

This project evaluated the impacts of the five major strategies currently driving the global development of net-zero carbon buildings and communities – decarbonisation of the electricity grid, electrification of building space and water heating, building efficiency improvements to reduce energy demand, digitalisation of buildings and development of electricity grids to improve energy management and electrification of vehicles. Rather than evaluate each of these strategies in isolation, a systems modelling approach was used.

The primary aim of this research was to identify and characterise the best pathways and technologies for reducing carbon emissions from buildings, construction and communities. A secondary aim was to develop systems analysis methodologies suitable for assessing emissions reductions associated with individual buildings and communities. The five strategies will be considered in both aims. Information from this research seeks to improve designers’ capability to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and will underpin the future development of building regulations covering carbon emissions.