Table of Contents Acknowledgements Foreword Preface Chapter One: The Evolution of Net-Zero Energy Building Background and ecological origin - ecological economics 1930-1969 Early Solar House 1970-1989 First energy crisis and the emerge of net-zero energy building 1990-2006 Second Energy Crisis and The Consensus of Net-Zero Energy Building 2076-2010 Finical Crisis and Rapid Development of Net-Zero Energy Building 2010-2016 Financial Recovery and Blooming Net-Zero Energy Building 2017-Beyond Net-Zero Energy Building Conclusion Chapter Two: Principles of Zero: Metrics and Assessment Existing Definition of Net-Zero Energy Building The equation behind the definitions Existing energy calculation method Metrics and Measurement Tools Conclusion Chapter Three: Predicted Impact of Net Zero Building Trends and Opportunities Direct Benefits of Net-Zero Building Indirect Benefits Culture-Social Shift - Impact on Community Conclusion Chapter Four: Unintended Consequences Net Zero Building - from a life cycle perspective Net Energy and Its Ecological Economics Origin Unintended Consequence One: environmental impact associated with embodied energy Unintended Consequence Two: societal impact - more sprawl and green life style? Unintended Consequence Three: ecological degradation Conclusion Chapter Five: Future Drivers and Economics Environmental Drivers Regulatory Drivers: mandates, regulations and incentivesHuman Health Drivers Technology Drivers Economic Drivers Conclusion Chapter Six: Advanced Building Materials and Systems- Smart Green Building Nanomaterial Phase Changing Material Smart Systems: Advanced Building Envelope Fabric Materials Conclusion Chapter Seven: Zero-Impact Building - new framework based on life cycle assessment Problems of Existing net zero definition Additional Impact Indicators Proposed definition of net zero impact building - from life cycle perspective Proposed measurement and evaluation framework for net zero impact building Conclusion Chapter Eight: Future Development - A Case Study Introduction Carbon Neutral Built Environment and City Three Case Studies Conclusion