The ZED Book: Solutions for a shrinking world

While Zero (fossil) Energy Development (ZED) is generally regarded as a positive innovation, in practice this option is not taken up or fully implemented. A planner, a councillor, a developer, a housing association representative, an architect, a contractor, a building component manufacturer and a government officer would all have different reasons for not espousing ZED standards for their new-build projects, but the result would be the same.
This book tackles the reasons why this happens, systematically dismantling the defence against its adoption. It explains the principles behind ZED fossil Energy Development, and provides a ZED toolkit of methods and case studies to enable construction professionals and policymakers to realize a ZED build as easily as a conventional scheme.

Bill Dunster formed Bill Dunster architects in 1998. In 2002 he completed the award winning BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development), the UK's largest carbon neutral eco-community. The architectural practice now has its own range of low carbon construction products – ZEDfabric – and has recently launched the RuralZED zero carbon self build house kit.

Craig Simmons is the co-founder and Technical Director of Best Foot Forward, one of Europe’s leading environmental consultancies. In 2005 the company was awarded a Queen’s Award for sustainability development. In 2000, Craig co-authored Sharing Nature’s Interest – the definitive book on ecological footprinting – and currently sits on the standards committee of the Global Footprint Network.

Bobby Gilbert is a mathematician and chartered engineer with 20 years’ experience in designing simulation and monitoring systems. He runs his own building physics consultancy and software development business which recently launched ‘Carbon Mixer’, a software tool already adopted by many local authorities and consultants. Bobby also teaches building physics and simulation on post-graduate courses.