The Only Thing Better Than Building a Net Zero House is … Living in One
Today, building a Net Zero Energy (aka ZNE) house is possible for virtually every project. Whether you are drawn to Net Zero to bring down utility costs, reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, or prepare for the next natural disaster, Net Zero is a concept everyone can get behind.
We put this webpage together to aid others interested in building their own Net Zero projects. What we did in 2014 is now more cost-effective and much more common. The general process is:
1) Define your goals and how you will decide what systems and materials to use in your project
2) Work with an architect to draw up your conceptual plan
3) Optimize the plan – working with contractors, product suppliers, your architect and an energy consultant
4) Once you have your energy load determined, design a solar array to supply enough power to equal the load of the house over the course of the year
5) Build it
6) Love living in it
We feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to go through this process and we built a home that fits our family. This project drove me to become an energy consultant and our home is now a living laboratory for new systems and ideas. And we have found so many unexpected benefits of living in a purposefully built efficient home:
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options and products and decisions involved with a purposeful Net Zero building project. But we’re here to tell you that, if you set your goals clearly, surround yourself with a good team, research and plan ahead, and drive the process yourself, the results can be Net Infinity! Feel free to contact us if we can help you in any way.
We put this webpage together to aid others interested in building their own Net Zero projects. What we did in 2014 is now more cost-effective and much more common. The general process is:
1) Define your goals and how you will decide what systems and materials to use in your project
2) Work with an architect to draw up your conceptual plan
3) Optimize the plan – working with contractors, product suppliers, your architect and an energy consultant
4) Once you have your energy load determined, design a solar array to supply enough power to equal the load of the house over the course of the year
5) Build it
6) Love living in it
We feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to go through this process and we built a home that fits our family. This project drove me to become an energy consultant and our home is now a living laboratory for new systems and ideas. And we have found so many unexpected benefits of living in a purposefully built efficient home:
- enhanced indoor air quality
- quiet
- comfortable
- better interaction with family
- indoor-outdoor living
- low maintenance
- more control over expenses
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options and products and decisions involved with a purposeful Net Zero building project. But we’re here to tell you that, if you set your goals clearly, surround yourself with a good team, research and plan ahead, and drive the process yourself, the results can be Net Infinity! Feel free to contact us if we can help you in any way.