Affordable net-zero carbon housing in the Global South: pathways towards a resilient built environment

Purpose Affordable housing and climate mitigation are often addressed separately rather than together in the Global South. Limited research exists integrating affordability with net-zero carbon objectives in housing under resource-constrained conditions. This paper investigates how affordable housing in South Africa can transition towards net-zero carbon, and what trade-offs and pathways are credible under local market, regulatory and energy system constraints. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory mixed-methods design combined semi-structured interviews with whole life cycle carbon emission (WLCCE) modelling of a typical three-bedroom house. Four experts in the affordable and sustainable housing space were interviewed and analysed thematically to identify perceptions, challenges, and opportunities. The WLCCE integrated One Click life cycle assessment (embodied carbon) and Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) (operational carbon) to test three affordable net-zero carbon housing (ANZCH) scenarios. Findings The findings show operational emissions dominate the WLCCE in the base case. Prioritising envelope efficiency plus on-site photovoltaic (PV) can reduce WLCCE by 12–94% relative to a conventional baseline. The innovative ANZCH pathway achieved near elimination of operational emissions but raised embodied impacts through PV installation. Practical implications This study offers developers a roadmap for ANZCH in coal-reliant economies, prioritising operational carbon reduction, passive design and scalable technologies within cost-effective strategies. Originality/value Achieving ANZCH in the Global South requires passive design, efficient building systems and scalable PV installations, supported by low-carbon materials. The research informs sustainable housing strategies, balancing affordability and carbon mitigation in coal-reliant economies.