Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB): Concepts, Frameworks, and Roadmap for Project Analysis and Implementation

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB): Concepts, Frameworks, and Roadmap for Project Analysis and Implementation, Second Edition is a vital resource for researchers and professionals in civil engineering and architecture. This updated version includes examples from the New Buildings Institute’s Getting to Zero Buildings Database and revised sections shaped by ongoing collaboration with industry experts and researchers.
This book is a detailed guide to planning, designing, and implementing high-performance buildings, providing practical methodologies to meet global decarbonization targets, including the EU’s 2050 and China’s 2060 zero carbon goals. It addresses critical challenges related to the energy transition, focusing on electrification, decarbonization calculations, lifecycle assessment, and advanced technologies like data analytics and digital twins to optimize a building's performance. With real-world case studies from diverse climates and building types, this second edition highlights lessons learned and actionable strategies to overcome implementation barriers and drive meaningful change in the built environment.

• Offers a solid grounding in key principles of energy efficiency, lifecycle assessment, and decarbonization specific to high-performance buildings
• Combines technical expertise with an understanding of economic, sociocultural, and environmental factors for integrated, sustainable building solutions
• Provides essential tools and strategies for informed decision-making throughout the building lifecycle―from planning and design to construction and operation
• Explores the application of technologies such as photovoltaics, heat pumps, batteries, and innovative building storage systems, including phase change materials, to enhance energy performance and support decarbonization

Shady Attia is a Professor of Sustainable Architecture and Building Technology at the University of Liège, Belgium, where he leads the Sustainable Building Design Lab. Prof. Attia has worked as a design consultant on the design and construction of high-performance buildings, focusing on energy efficiency, lifecycle assessment, and carbon-neutral strategies. He is a LEED-accredited professional, a faculty member of the US Green Building Council, and an active member of ASHRAE, IBPSA, and PLEA. He also serves as a consultant for design teams across the European Union and the European Commission, advising on circularity and decarbonization of the EU building stock. As a member of the International Energy Agency’s EBC Annex 89, he combines academic research with practical expertise, contributing to projects with organizations such as UNDP, USAID, and GIZ.