Driven by rising energy costs, government mandates, long-term cost savings, and simply doing the right thing for future generations, schools are increasingly turning to engineers and architects to move towards net zero energy consumption. Net zero is defined as carbon neutrality, meaning the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2 being most impactful) produced by a facility is brought to zero by reducing emissions or methods to absorb greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are the leading cause of our planet's global warming. Reducing, eliminating, and absorbing greenhouse gases will slow or potentially reverse global warming.
However, achieving net zero is not an easy feat. A better term for the current state of educational institutions is approaching net zero. States like Washington, Oregon, and California are much closer to net zero due to statewide incentives and mandates coupled with the increased rates of utilities in these states. Florida and other states are still far behind Washington, Oregon, and California. Florida, for instance, has much lower energy costs and has moved more slowly towards net zero because the economics are not in place to encourage more investment to improve power use and thus reduce CO2 emissions. When facilities look at the costs of improved building envelopes, wind and solar energy, and new technologies around mechanical and lighting systems, the return on investment is often decades away and simply not economical.