• Sustainable neighbourhoods with zero greenhouse gas emissions

WELCOME TO THE ZEN RESEARCH CENTRE

We will enable the transition to a low carbon society by developing sustainable neighbourhoods with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

We are convinced that our future cities and communities should ensure optimal energy use and be good places for people to live and work in.

Read more about us

What is a zero emission neighbourhood?

The ZEN Research Centre, together with its partners, has set out to create zero emission neighbourhoods (ZEN).

A zero emission neighbourhood aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions towards zero within its life cycle.

Read more >>

ZERO EMISSION NEIGHBOURHOOD?

OUR PILOT PROJECTS

The ZEN Research Centre has 9 pilot projects spread all over Norway

The ZEN pilot projects serve as innovation hubs where our researchers, together with building professionals, property developers, municipalities, energy companies, and building owners and users, test new solutions for the construction, operation, and use of neighbourhoods in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions to zero on a neighbourhood scale.

Pilot Projects


Campus, Evenstad

Furuset, Oslo

Zero Village Bergen

Knowledge Axis, Trondheim

Ydalir, Elverum

Airport re-development, Bodø

Residental area, Steinkjer

Fornebu, Bærum

See all the Pilot Projects
Campus
Evenstad
Read more >>
Furuset
Oslo
Read more >>
Zero Village
Bergen
Read more >>
Knowledge Axis
Trondheim
Read more >>
Ydalir
Elverum
Read more >>
Airport re-development
Bodø
Read more >>
Residental area
Steinkjer
Read more >>
Fornebu
Bærum
Read more >>

HIGHLY
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH

Our Research

The ZEN Research Centre’s research is highly multi-disciplinary.
We have organized our research activities in 6 work packages:

  • Work package 1: Analytical framework for the design and planning of zero emission neighbourhoods (ZEN)
  • Work package 2: Policy measures, innovation and business models
  • Work package 3: Responsive and energy efficient buildings
  • Work package 4: Energy flexible neighbourhoods
  • Work package 5: Local energy system optimization within a larger system
  • Work package 6: Pilot projects and living labs
Learn more about the Centre’s research

OUR PARTNERS

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is the host and leads the Centre together with SINTEF Building and Infrastructure and SINTEF Energy.

ZEN-conference 2018

The first conference on zero emission neighbourhoods presented inspiring examples of zero emission neighbourhoods from all over the world.

The first conference on zero emission neighbourhoods took place on 17 April 2018 in Vulkan Arena in Oslo. The 200 participants were presented with inspiring presentations from Norway and abroad and introduced to the width of activities that are taking place in the ZEN Research Centre.

The conference was widely covered by media before as well as after the event.

Read a blog post from the conference: “På vei mot nullutslipp!”


Photo: 200 participants witnessed the opening of the ZEN conference on 17 April 2018 in Oslo. See the pictures from the ZEN conference
Download presentations