Encyclopedia of ZEMCH Research and Development

The concept of the 'Zero Energy Mass Custom Home' or ZEMCH is emerging with the aim of exploring opportunities to make our built environment more socially, economically, environmentally, and humanly sustainable. The concept of 'Sustainable Development' has existed for quite some time. In 1987, it was first advocated by the World Commission on Environment and Development. In 1997, the text of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was eventually adopted at the 3rd Conference of the Parties (COP3). The Paris Agreement adopted by 196 Parties at COP21 came into force on 4th November 2016. The goal was to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius in comparison to pre-industrial levels. Buildings account for about 40% of global energy consumption, having a tremendous impact on global warming. The built environment is indeed a system of energy and environment that is occupied by the masses, embracing diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Today, the United Nations articulates the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that reflect necessary global actions for humanity and the planet. In view of these agendas, the delivery of built environments is becoming more demanding and complex than ever, and it is now required that developers accommodate the social, economic, environmental, and human dimensions of these sustainability challenges. This volume encompasses a wide spectrum of ZEMCH research and development knowledge that concerns design engineering, construction management, material innovation, renewable energy technology, and community planning.