zero energy home construction
January 16, 2020
The Challenges and Opportunities of Exterior Air Sealing
Good news! You can choose from more methods than ever before to reach the high levels of air tightness needed for zero energy construction. Many builders find it less expensive to seal the exterior structural sheathing. Here are six effective methods to consider.
Read ArticleNovember 18, 2019
2020: The Year to Go Zero
Time has run out. A climate crisis is upon us. Only immediate and dramatic action can blunt the catastrophic consequences of a “hot house earth” scenario. There are a variety of actions that almost that every citizen of Planet Earth can take. Together we can make a real difference!
Read ArticleNovember 14, 2019
Planning Your Zero Energy Ready Home
Although the price of solar panels has plunged in recent years, they are still the most expensive element of a zero energy home. It’s okay to defer installing panels until the time is right. Here’s how to plan your zero energy ready home so it’s ready for solar when you are.
Read ArticleOctober 17, 2019
Risky Choices When Buying a Home: It’s no Game
People don’t always make rational choices. Why would a home buyer purchase a conventional home that is actually more expensive overall than a high-performance home? It’s all about how people assess risk. Erase40 provides a tool to help homebuyers make better decisions.
Read ArticleSeptember 9, 2019
LEED v4.1 Goes Zero
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced an update to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most widely used green building program in the world. What’s new with LEED version 4.1? Net zero certifications for carbon, energy, water and waste. With these certifications and and its upgraded recertification program, LEED is truly a leader in encouraging climate-friendly green buildings.
Read ArticleJuly 14, 2019
Zero Energy: the Ultimate in Green Building
Energy efficiency is at the core of all green building certification programs. It’s time to ratchet up these modest improvements to make homes as green as they can be by operating them entirely with clean energy.
Read ArticleApril 8, 2019
Zero Energy Buildings are Much Healthier Than Conventional Homes
As described in Part One, indoor air can be unhealthy. When you invest in zero energy, you’ll also get something even more important than money in return. Zero energy buildings are also healthier. Here in Part Two of this three-part series, you can read about all the components of zero energy buildings that make this invaluable benefit possible.
Read ArticleMarch 15, 2019
Zero Energy Homes: Tunneling Through the Electrification Cost Barrier in Cold Climates
The move away from fossil fuels requires that buildings and vehicles be powered by electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, etc. All-electric homes in cold climates present a challenge for comfort and cost, but those barriers have fallen to recent developments in design and technology - making all-electric homes desirable even in cold climates.
Read ArticleFebruary 15, 2019
My Zero Energy Pool is a Great Investment!
Swimming pools are great fun, but they have high running costs and a high carbon footprint. David Green cut both. Now his pool running cost is zero and so is its carbon footprint.
Read ArticleJanuary 16, 2019
Mandalay Homes: Zero Energy Grid-Integrated Neighborhoods that Solve the “Duck Curve”
To stay competitive, a production builder must find a good balance between cost, price, and profit. Here’s the story of one builder who has successfully added high-performance, clean energy features to their standard offering. More importantly this builder has developed an elegant solution to the challenge of solar-powered homes producing energy when it is not needed by the grid.
Read ArticleNovember 12, 2018
Stand up and be counted!
If you design, build or are otherwise involved in a new zero energy home or building, the Net Zero Energy Coalition wants to hear from you. They have been tracking the significant growth of zero energy buildings for several years. In 2017, there were 70% more projects than a year earlier. Submit your project for the annual inventory and be counted!
Read ArticleJuly 20, 2018
Passive House Busts High Cost Myth
The first certified Passive House in Scranton, Pennsylvania, offers more than super energy efficiency. It demonstrates that high-performance homes can be built for the same price as code-built homes.
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