Harvard University, Snøhetta, and Skanska Technology Announce The HouseZero Project

Harvard University, Snøhetta, and Skanska Technology have announced The HouseZero Project, a collaboration to retrofit an 80-year old timber-framed former house in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Purchased by the University in 2011, the building serves as the headquarters for the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, created in 2014 as a part of Harvard’s Graduate Center of Design.  The project will allow the team to explore and demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency improvement measures in existing buildings as opposed to new structures. 

According to Ali Malkwai, Professor of Architectural Technology and a Founding Center Director, "Before now, this level of efficiency could only be achieved in new construction.  We want to demonstrate what's possible, show how this can be replicated almost anywhere, and solve one of the world's biggest energy problems – inefficient existing buildings."

Improving energy efficiency is clearly critical in any effort to mitigate climate change, as buildings consume almost half of all energy and generate almost 40% of carbon emissions in the US annually.  But since on average only 2% of building stock is new each year, retrofitting the other, existing 98% of buildings should be a high priority.  The HouseZero project will hopefully serve as an inspiration and provide a needed example and step in the right direction.     

To read more about the House Zero Project: http://www.rateitgreen.com/articles/the-housezero-project/72