# When Will Net-Zero Buildings Be The Design Standard?

Published 2019-09-24 · Updated 2026-06-09 · Engineering & Construction on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/engineering-and-construction/when-will-net-zero-buildings-be-the-design-standard

> Sustainability was among the major themes at this year’s Chicago Build Expo. More and more architects and builders have been striving to create more eco-friendly projects but questions and challenges still remain. “I think one of the main obstacles right now is knowledge. Making sure people [are] aware of the benefits of achieving a…

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Sustainability was among the major themes at this year’s [Chicago Build Expo](https://www.chicagobuildexpo.com). More and more architects and builders have been striving to create more eco-friendly projects but questions and challenges still remain.

“I think one of the main obstacles right now is knowledge. Making sure people [are] aware of the benefits of achieving a net-zero efficiency and also making sure people understand ‘what are the ways one can reach net-zero?’,” María Laguarda-Mallo, a project manager at VIATchnik, LLC said.

There is also a question as to whether creating net-zero buildings is economically feasible for certain areas in the United States, but according to Nathan Kipnis, Founder and Principal of Kipnis Architecture+Planning there are plenty of affordable options for residential and commercial builders today.

“After all the incentives, it might be, for a large home, it might be $15,000. That is comparable to maybe the cabinet upgrade in the kitchen. It’s like nothing. It’s crazy not to do it,” Kipnis said.

However, Kipnis admits that there is still a significant amount of work to be done to make green buildings more popular.

“I think that’s the real challenge now, is to get these materials that are lower-carbon to produce and have long life and are still great materials,” Kipnis said.

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