Dow Chemical Co. and Cobblestone Homes debuted a new net-zero energy home at a Michigan home show earlier this month. Built for under $250,000, the home, dubbed InVision Zero, is affordable for many home buyers.
Using a portfolio of energy efficient home building materials and technologies from Dow that work together to seal the entire building envelope, the home is expected to save $2,441 in energy costs and avert 30,233 pounds of CO2 annually.
Dow collaborated with Cobblestone Homes to construct a net-zero energy demonstration home in order to broaden public awareness that sustainable living is an attainable and affordable reality for homeowners.
"Dow Building Solutions has been providing advanced building science expertise to the industry for decades," Dale Winger, marketing manager, Dow Building Solutions, said in a press release. "By collaborating with industry leaders like Cobblestone Homes, we are able to showcase that employing the latest available insulation and air sealing technologies can reduce a home's energy requirements so dramatically, that net-zero energy homes reach an attainable price point for mainstream new home buyers."
Net-zero energy homes typically use about 60 to 70 percent less energy than a conventional home, with the balance of its energy needs supplied by renewable technologies. The InVision Zero home uses a wide range of Dow materials and sustainable technologies, bringing together everything from Dow Building Solutions' energy saving Styrofoam SIS Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing, insulating foam sealants and weather barrier solutions, to the new Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles. The solar components on this home will produce enough energy to supply all of this home's electricity needs.
The home also highlights a variety of other Dow products ranging from Dowfrost GEO 20 heat transfer fluids used in the geothermal system, polyurethanes in the entry door, and coatings technology for zero-VOC paints and carpeting. Cobblestone has also incorporated a wide range of products from a number of other leading suppliers that will conserve energy or harness renewable resources to keep the home comfortable, while meeting the zero-energy threshold.
The 1,556-square-foot home is located in Midland, Mich. It is open to the public and will serve as an educational center for one year, providing tours, training, and hands-on demonstrations. A monitoring dashboard will be on display to track the home's carbon footprint and energy usage.
User Comments