Net Zero Resources
Net Zero is all about conserving water, reducing energy use, and eliminating solid waste to improve the environment, save money, and help communities become more sustainable and resilient. EPA researchers are accomplishing this goal by developing and implementing Net Zero strategies, approaches, and technologies like the ones listed on this site.
Net Zero Concepts and Definitions
Net Zero and Net Positive (NZ/NP) strategies emphasize taking a systems approach to reduce water, energy, and waste footprints in installations and communities. These NZ/NP strategies provide long-term solutions for sustainability and resilience by meeting the environmental objectives of clean air and water, and reducing or eliminating waste sent to landfill, while ensuring the long-term viability of resources is not only maintained but also improved. At their core, NZ/NP strategies represent "sustainability in action".
Net Zero means consuming only as much energy as is produced, achieving a sustainable balance between water availability and demand, and eliminating solid waste sent to landfills.
Achieving Net Zero Water means limiting the consumption of water resources and returning it back to the same watershed so as not to deplete the resources of that region in quantity or quality over the course of the year.
Achieving Net Zero Energy means producing, from renewable resources, as much energy on site as is used over the course of a year. Achieving Net Positive Energy means producing, from renewable resources, more energy on site than is used over the course of a year.
Achieving Net Zero Waste means reducing, reusing, and recovering waste streams to convert them to valuable resources with zero solid waste sent to landfills over the course of the year.
Note: Definitions adapted from US Army Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment.
Net Zero Materials
Fact Sheets
- Promoting Sustainability and Resilience through Net Zero and Net Positive Technologies and Approaches (pdf)
- Demonstrating Net Zero Green Infrastructure Technologies on Fort Riley, KS (pdf)
Publications
- Life Cycle and Cost Assessments of Nutrient Removal Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants (pdf)
- Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Expansion Options for Food Waste Anaerobic Co-Digestion (2019)
- Effect of Nutrient Removal and Resource Recovery on Life Cycle Cost and Environmental Impacts of a Small Scale Water Resource Recovery Facility (2018)
- Nutrient recovery from municipal wastewater for sustainable food production systems: An alternative to traditional fertilizers - Newport, RI (2018)
- Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Bath, NY Wastewater Treatment Plant: Potential Upgrade Implications (2017)