From Nearly Zero Energy to Carbon-Neutral: Case Study of a Hospitality Building

In recent years, many cities around the world have pledged to upgrade their building stocks carbon-neutral. However, literature does not yet provide a shared definition of carbon-neutral (CNB), and assessment objectives methodological approaches are vague fragmented. Starting from available standards scientific on life cycle (LCA), this paper advances an operational for CNB basis explicit calculation approach. It then applies urban case study, comparing it against state-of-the-art nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) scenario, with intent highlighting major practical limitations connected application methodologically sound carbon neutrality calculation. The study shows that neutral can hardly be achieved by single buildings because lack spaces onsite offsetting actions. Carbon may better approached at city, regional, or national scales, where overarching policies defined.