- Season 6
- Episode 1
- Architecture, Culture, Interior Design, Urbanism
In a warming, anxious world, can buildings heal both mind and planet? Unpack how wellbeing is reshaping sustainable architecture from the inside out.
From energy budgets to climate-specific strategies, designing a net zero energy building is a puzzle with countless moving pieces. This episode reveals how to turn overwhelming complexity into possibility.
Buildings account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making net zero design critical for a sustainable future. Every detail, from the orientation of windows to the integration of renewables, carries the potential to reduce our carbon footprint.
And yet, it’s not only about emissions or energy bills. Net zero energy buildings represent a shift in how we think about architecture, challenging designers to create spaces that are also resilient, comfortable, and inspiring.
| 00:00:40 | Net zero energy buildings |
| 00:00:44 | “The net zero energy building market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of around 30 to 40% from 2023 to 2030.” |
| 00:04:41 | “Success on the energy front is contingent on success in achieving comfort for the occupants…” |
| 00:05:08 | “To say that we all need 24 degrees centigrade all the time is a gross oversimplification.” |
| 00:06:54 | Avasara Academy |
| 00:05:08 | “What’s remarkable about Avasara is its reliance on basic principles of thermodynamics.” |
| 00:07:13 | “…the most effective solutions are often low-cost and locally sourced…” |
| 00:08:52 | Powerhouse Telemark |
| 00:09:38 | “Each angle was precisely calculated to serve the building’s ambitious energy goals.” |
| 00:10:00 | “…the building also boasts a yearly reduction of energy consumption of about 70% compared to similar new offices in the country.” |
| 00:10:58 | The Edge |
| 00:11:08 | “It’s a showcase for how real-time data can be channelled into the day-to-day operations of a building through deep integration…” |
| 00:12:52 | “The Edge uses real-time occupancy data to match each employee with the perfect workspace for their needs.” |
But what exactly is a net zero energy building? These structures produce as much energy as they consume annually by harnessing renewable sources. Achieving this balance demands a deep understanding of site resources and climate.
Think of it like managing an energy budget: architects must weigh production potential against consumption needs to design within the constraints of their environment.
This balance isn’t achieved through technology alone; it’s also about adapting to what’s available. That’s where inventive, low-tech solutions shine, proving that impactful design can also be resourceful and affordable.
The Avasara Academy in Lavale, near Pune in India, uses clever, cost-effective strategies like earth tubes for natural cooling and bamboo screens for shading. These simple yet powerful techniques create comfortable spaces while slashing energy use.
The Avasara Academy’s passive design approach creates year-round comfort, even in Pune’s scorching 42 °C summers.Next, there’s the question of form. Every curve, corner, and contour plays a role in balancing energy production and consumption. The Powerhouse Telemark in Norway is a prime example. Its angled roof and sleek geometry were precisely designed by Snøhetta to maximise solar energy capture.
The Powerhouse Telemark building cuts energy consumption by 70% compared to typical new office buildings.Technology also has a role to play. The Edge in Amsterdam, Netherlands, integrates cutting-edge systems to achieve unparalleled efficiency. This smart building, equipped with 28,000 sensors, monitors everything from light to air quality.
It adapts to occupants’ needs in real-time, reducing energy waste and achieving a dynamic balance between occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
Entire sections of The Edge can be automatically shut down on low-occupancy days, further reducing energy consumption.Of course, technology and design are only part of the equation. We wrap this episode up by revealing the final piece of the puzzle, which turns out to be an essential component for turning ambitious concepts into real-world successes.
Lead image: © Ivar Kvaal / Snøhetta
Keep reading if you want to deep dive into this interview’s content and get more out of it. You can also find out more about this episode’s guest/s and sponsor/s, and the team that put it all together.
This episode is brought to you by:
| The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction The Holcim Foundation helps drive systemic change towards a more sustainable built environment. It was founded in 2003 to define and promote the key principles of sustainability for the construction sector and is committed to accelerating the sector’s transformation so that people and the planet can thrive. The Foundation has investigated various aspects of sustainable construction via a series of roundtables and conferences with international experts. It has also recognised excellent contributions to this field with the Holcim Foundation Awards which are considered the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design. Committed to a holistic approach that recognises the equal importance and interdependence of four key goals, the Foundation combines the collective knowledge, ideas, and solutions of our global community of experts with a recognised platform of international competitions to democratise thought leadership for the entire sector. |  |
This episode is brought to you by:
The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
The Holcim Foundation helps drive systemic change towards a more sustainable built environment. It was founded in 2003 to define and promote the key principles of sustainability for the construction sector and is committed to accelerating the sector’s transformation so that people and the planet can thrive.
The Foundation has investigated various aspects of sustainable construction via a series of roundtables and conferences with international experts. It has also recognised excellent contributions to this field with the Holcim Foundation Awards which are considered the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design.
Committed to a holistic approach that recognises the equal importance and interdependence of four key goals, the Foundation combines the collective knowledge, ideas, and solutions of our global community of experts with a recognised platform of international competitions to democratise thought leadership for the entire sector.
If you heard it in this episode, we likely have a link for it right here. Click on any topics, people, buildings, places, products and/or technologies listed below to learn more about each of them.
| 00:00:40 | “…Net zero energy buildings are now…” “What is a net zero carbon building?” | World Green Building Council |
| 00:05:41 | “…plans into passive and active zones, decide which…” “Passive Design Strategies” | Autodesk |
| 00:11:56 | “…Deloitte, the building’s main…” “Who we are” | Deloitte |
| 00:13:44 | “…The IDP prescribes, for…” “Integrated Design” | Harvard |
| 00:01:28 | “…based in Singapore…” “Singapore” | Britannica |
| 00:07:05 | “…The Avasara Academy in India…” “Avasara Academy” (Lavale, India) | Case Design |
| 00:07:06 | “…Academy in India is…” “India” | Britannica |
| 00:07:34 | “…city of Pune within…” “Pune” (Maharashtra, India) | Britannica |
| 00:08:58 | “…In Porsgrunn, Norway, the Powerhouse Telemark goes beyond…” “Porsgrunn” (Norway) | Britannica |
| 00:08:58 | “…In Porsgrunn, Norway, the Powerhouse Telemark goes beyond…” “Norway” | Britannica |
| 00:08:59 | “…In Porsgrunn, Norway, the Powerhouse Telemark goes beyond…” “Powerhouse Telemark” (Porsgrunn, Norway) | Snøhetta |
| 00:10:59 | “…go to Amsterdam to what…” “Amsterdam” (Netherlands) | Britannica |
| 00:11:03 | “…The Edge as this…” “The Edge” (Amsterdam, Netherlands) | PLP Architecture |
There are no design features discussed in this episode.
| 00:02:33 | “…for mounting renewables. Now these…” “What is renewable energy?” | United Nations |
| 00:02:39 | “…use solar PV as a technology…” “Solar Photovoltaic Technology Basics” | U.S. Department of Energy |
| 00:05:46 | “…to be mechanically cooled or heated, which ones…” “What’s HVAC? Heating and Cooling System Basics” | How Stuff Works |
| 00:08:06 | “…open to solar chimneys on the…” “Solar Chimneys in Architecture” | Green City Times |
| 00:08:39 | “…There are solar panels on the…” “solar panel” | Britannica |
| 00:10:10 | “…facades with triple-glazed windows and providing…” “Insulated glazing” | Wikipedia |
| 00:11:15 | “…as the Internet of Things…” “Internet of Things” | Britannica |
Host
Nirmal Kishnani
Producer
Maxime Flores
Senior communications executive
Sana Gupta
Senior editor
Tyler Yeo
Art director (video)
Alexander Melck | Phlogiston
Sound technician and editor
Kelvin Brown | Phlogiston
Video editors
Mathew Jose Kurian | Pride of Pandis
Steve Roshan | Pride of Pandis
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