New opportunities to expand truly affordable rental housing - building low cost zero energy ADU’s – sometimes referred to as in-law apartments, garage apartments, attic apartments, tiny homes, or casitas. But how to make them truly affordable?

Hint: The Answer Goes Beyond Green Building Buzz Words

Together we are  building demand for zero energy homes by arming consumers and professionals with resources to plan their own path to zero

Because they are affordable, small homes are attractive to many younger homebuyers as well as retirees who are downsizing. Small homes are also more energy efficient. Whether you’re in a new smaller zero energy home or an existing small home, these interior design tips will help you live big in a smaller space.

The top building material categories that account for most embodied carbon in home construction include concrete, rebar, insulation, glazing, and finishes. There are proven low-embodied-carbon solutions that can be broken down into three main categories: whole-building design, one-for-one material substitution, and specification. In general, whole-building design solutions can drive the greatest embodied carbon savings along with following low-embodied-carbon best practices throughout the building design and construction process.

The Inventory of Zero Energy Homes is the definitive metric of market growth in this housing sector. Now is the time to add your new project to the database or update your current listing.

One important step toward making zero energy homes affordable is to make them smaller. However, smaller homes don’t mean sacrificing comfort or function. Here are 20 design ideas that allow you to live big in a small footprint.

Tracking the growth of zero energy homes in all their different forms is essential to building momentum for the growth of zero. If you are an owner, builder, or designer of a zero home, be sure your home is listed and help grow the movement toward zero.

Factory-built homes show great promise for zero energy housing. This company is combining high performance and small size with low cost to meet the housing challenges of the coming decade. 

Ten years ago, making a home or building generate as much energy as it uses over the course of a year seemed an immense challenge. Tens of thousands of these advanced energy-efficient structures have been built. But they need to be better to meet the challenges of climate change, health, security, and resilience. So what’s next? Zero 2.0! 

Whether you’re building a new home or replacing worn out appliances, you’ll want to choose products that reduce energy use and your carbon footprint. Some choices are just improved versions of familiar products, and other options may be completely new. Make your next kitchen a 21st century kitchen — ready for our zero carbon future.

You can’t build or remodel a home on the path to zero without buying suitable materials and equipment. That’s why the Zero Energy Project offers a select list of product ideas that can smooth your path to zero. Check out the new products that have been recently added to the Zero Energy Product Directory!