# New Zero-Emission Construction

## Source Metadata

<table id="bkmrk-fieldvalue-sourcecpi"><tr><th>Field</th><th>Value</th></tr><tr><td>source</td><td>cpi</td></tr><tr><td>source\_version</td><td>GLCF 2025</td></tr><tr><td>source\_id</td><td>CPI-BU-001</td></tr><tr><td>sector</td><td>Buildings &amp; Infrastructure</td></tr><tr><td>subsector</td><td>New Zero-Emission Construction</td></tr><tr><td>mitigation</td><td>Y</td></tr><tr><td>adaptation</td><td>Y</td></tr><tr><td>last\_checked</td><td>2026-05-26</td></tr></table>

## CPI Definition &amp; Scope

New Zero-Emission Construction in CPI's GLCF framework tracks finance directed at the design and construction of buildings that achieve near-zero or zero operational carbon emissions from the outset. CPI captures investment in net-zero energy buildings, passive house construction, green building certification programs, low-carbon construction materials (mass timber, low-carbon concrete), and building-integrated renewable energy systems. The buildings sector accounted for significant investment growth in CPI's tracking, with a 40% increase between 2018 and 2023.

## Subsectors &amp; Examples

- **Net-Zero Energy Buildings** — buildings that produce as much energy as they consume annually
- **Passive Design** — passive house standards, natural ventilation, daylighting optimization
- **Low-Carbon Materials** — mass timber, low-carbon cement, recycled steel, bamboo construction
- **Green Building Certification** — LEED, EDGE, BREEAM-certified new construction
- **Building-Integrated Renewables** — rooftop solar, building-integrated PV, solar thermal

## Mitigation &amp; Adaptation Classification

New zero-emission construction is classified as **dual-benefit** in CPI's framework. Mitigation comes from avoiding lock-in of high-carbon building stock and reducing embodied carbon in materials. Adaptation benefits arise from climate-resilient design features including flood-resistant foundations, heat-resilient envelopes, and passive cooling that reduce vulnerability to extreme temperatures and weather events.

## LATAM Relevance

Latin America's rapid urbanization drives enormous demand for new construction. Colombia's EDGE green building program has certified hundreds of residential and commercial projects, making it one of the most active markets globally. Peru's construction boom in Lima offers opportunities for green building standards adoption. Costa Rica's ambitious climate goals extend to its building sector with national green building policies. Bamboo and mass timber construction offer regionally appropriate low-carbon material alternatives.

## Cleantech Taxonomy Crosswalk

Maps to Cleantech Taxonomy sector **BU** (Buildings) for new construction. Cross-references with **IN** (Industry) for low-carbon building materials manufacturing and **ES** (Energy Systems) for building-integrated energy generation.