Net-Zero Future

To enable a rapid global movement toward the built environmentʼs carbon footprint reduction, the Net-Zero Future project will initiate an international alliance to coordinate and perform research, educational, and outreach activities to realize net-zero built structures.

This project will lead to a well-grounded, credible, and innovative alliance in line with short- and long-term sustainable development goals in the absence of similar missions. 

The planned activities are original and will effectively engage Norway and four selected countries, i.e., Germany, India, South Africa, and the USA, following the Panorama Strategy (2021–2027).

Such a multi-country alliance is crucial for decarbonization of the built environment. The bodies of knowledge and experience in the emerging domain of net-zero structures significantly vary from one region to another, while common needs and questions call for seamless international collaborations and exchanges. 

The Net-Zero Future project involves five academic institutions from five countries, along with several public and industry partners who work on the development, production, and implementation of materials and technologies required for net-zero structures. 

Production of original knowledge bases and inspiration of a new generation of engineers, researchers, and educators to contribute to minimizing the built environments carbon footprint are among the main objectives. 

Given the complementary background and expertise of the project team members, along with their institutional strengths and supports, this international alliance is expected to transform the state of the art and practice for net-zero structures. 

In particular, by harnessing the latest advances in this critical domain, the Net-Zero Future project will have lasting impacts that carry positive externalities across a broad spectrum of civil infrastructures and societal ecosystems.