Policy recommendations for the zero energy building promotion towards carbon neutral in Asia-Pacific Region

Highlights: • Zero energy building framework are proposed with the goal of carbon neutral. • Latest progress of Zero energy building in Asia-Pacific Region are reviewed. • Gaps towards carbon neutral in building sector are analyzed. • 10 policy recommendations are proposed to promote Bldg. sector transition to carbon neutral. The present global trend towards decarbonization under the Paris Agreement encourages regions and economies to explore possible ways to reduce energy intensity and minimize emissions into the environment. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which accounts for 60% of world energy demand, aims to reduce energy intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2035 and double the share of renewable energy in the energy mix between 2010 and 2030. The promotion of Zero Energy Building (ZEB) was considered the most efficient way to respond to these goals in the building sector. A comprehensive review of progress over the past decade and a comparison of the definitions, standards and goals of ZEB in the five biggest economies of APEC (Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States) was carried out. In 2020, these five economies announced a carbon neutral goal towards 2050/2060, which will significantly affect the building sector in the foreseeable future. According to the progress review of ZEB over the last decade, this paper analyzes gaps in the building sector towards zero emissions by 2050 and proposes 10 policy recommendations covering multi-aspect and multi-factor in the APEC. The research will help steer more efficient and effective ZEB policies towards zero energy/emissions in the building sector in the Asia-Pacific region.