Net-Zero Energy Housing Virtual Article 6 Pilot

The NewClimate Institute explored the construction of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) in Cartagena, Colombia, as a virtual Article 6 pilot. The study found that NZEBs are currently non-existent or uncommon in Colombia and Latin America, with a price premium of approximately 15% over standard buildings. Due to underdeveloped supply chains for solar PV and dehumidification systems, as well as insufficient domestic regulations, the project is considered additional and inaccessible without foreign support, meaning Colombia could likely export mitigation outcomes via Article 6 without endangering its own Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

• Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) are currently absent from the Colombian landscape, with no existing or planned projects identified in the country and very few examples globally in tropical, humid regions.
• Cost assessments based on a single example show that NZEBs carry a price premium of roughly 15% compared to standard buildings, posing a significant upfront financial risk regardless of the buyer's income or subsidy eligibility.
• The project is deemed 'additional' and 'inaccessible' in Colombia due to an immature residential solar PV market, a lack of distributors for mechanical ventilation with dehumidification systems, and domestic regulations that do not incentivize optimized building design.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2020). Net-Zero Energy Housing Virtual Article 6 Pilot. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/net-zero-energy-housing-virtual-article-6-pilot

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Net-Zero Energy Housing Virtual Article 6 Pilot. 2020. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/net-zero-energy-housing-virtual-article-6-pilot.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Net-Zero Energy Housing Virtual Article 6 Pilot |date=29 January 2020 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/net-zero-energy-housing-virtual-article-6-pilot |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2020netzero, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Net-Zero Energy Housing Virtual Article 6 Pilot}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/net-zero-energy-housing-virtual-article-6-pilot}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }