Every part of a Net Zero Home works together in harmony to create the ultimate energy-efficient living space. Like a well-oiled machine, every aspect of the home is necessary to ensure peak performance. Through advanced building techniques, technologies, and products, builders can significantly reduce a home’s energy consumption. Here are some examples of the techniques and products used to offer this energy-efficient lifestyle.
Air Tight & Well-Insulated
Net Zero Homes are extremely airtight and use a significant amount of insulation built into the home’s exterior walls, ceiling, and even under its foundation to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. In fact, the space heating energy consumption of this type of dwelling is, on average, 66 percent lower than a conventional home.
Smaller HVAC/Mechanical Systems
Because the “shell” of a Net Zero Home is so much more effective, the heating system can be much smaller. To ensure good indoor air quality, a ventilation system brings fresh air into the home and takes stale air out. With these two separate airstreams in the system, they cross paths and a heat transfer occurs between them. In the winter, the stale air from inside your home is cooled and deposited outside, while the incoming fresh air is warmed. In the summer, the opposite process occurs. Through this transfer, no energy is wasted and your home is kept at a comfortable temperature year-round.
Receive Energy from the Sun
The most common type of renewable energy technology in this type of build is a photovoltaic (PV) solar system–more commonly known as solar panels. They’re reliable, require little ongoing maintenance and you can estimate the amount of electricity they’ll produce annually before you purchase.
Photo: Tesla Powerwall
Reliably Store Energy
Some Net Zero Homes store the electricity generated on site to power the home during peak hours, and can also be used to charge your electric vehicle. Energy stored in these batteries can also provide the home with power during blackouts.
Qualified Net Zero Builders understand how to incorporate these building techniques into a comfortable, energy-efficient home allowing you and your family to have peace of mind.