Why net zero?

Why net zero?
Tags: Building Green, Energy Star, Heating & Cooling, Insulation, Windows & Doors
September 6, 2011 - Scott Flynn

There are about 100 net zero homes in the United States. Flynner Building Company built Idaho's first net zero home and will start two more homes this month.

To achieve net zero the home will produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of each year. To achieve this pinnacle level of green building, every component within the home is specified to reduce the overall energy required for operation.

An example of net zero features include:

Alternative Energy

8.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system (solar panels)

Energy Star Appliances

Dishwasher
Clothes Washer
Refrigerator

Energy Star Lighting

100 percent of sockets have Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs

Windows and Doors

Triple-pane <0.2 U-value window
R-7 doors

Insulation

R-77 attic + ceiling
Insulated side foundation R-13 rigid material and cover with James Hardie soffit panel for protection
R-40 insulated slab on grade with 8" of rigid material
R-60 wall with advanced wall framing and 9.5" I-Joist
14-inch thick exterior wall system

Heating and Cooling System

Daikin air-to-air, electric ductless heat pump 4-port mini-split system with HSPF 9.2
Solar water heating system
Heat recovery ventilator (HRV)

Third-Party Verified
Tested by qualified National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building and Energy Star verifier.

To see just how energy-efficient builders could be in constructing homes, the Department of Energy has sponsored the Building America Builders Challenge program in collaboration with several segments of the construction industry, including NAHB. One of the goals of the program is to develop technologies and techniques necessary to build cost-effective, net-zero energy homes — houses that produce as much energy as they use annually — by the year 2030.

At Flynner Building Company we're about 20 years ahead of the game and continuing to provide education to create more Net Zero homes.

Reader Comments

Ted Clifton

about 8 months ago

Only 100 net-zero homes in the United States? Is someone keeping track?

Scott, I am sure either of one us could build net-zero in most areas of California with our eyes closed. I have modeled a number of my own designs in various locations in California, just to see how they would perform, and a typical home that would require 6 KW of PV here in Washington State would only need about 3 KW of PV to get to net zero in California. I would be very surprised (and disappointed) if there are not hundreds of net-zero-energy homes in California alone.
Beth Geagan

about 8 months ago

Hi Ted,

Here is our source for the 100 comment:

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/in-pursuit-of-many-net-zero-homes/15873

This doesn't apply to you, but I think a lot of builders claim their homes are net-zero with out actually modeling them to demonstrate a HERS rating of zero or lower. A HERS verification is one of two ways to prove that net-zero was achieved, while the other is actual utility bills from the homeowner.

Best,

Scott
Ted Clifton

about 8 months ago

Scott,

Thanks for the link, I suspect "smart planet" is a little behind in their numbers! You are right-on about the way lots of people describe their home as "zero-energy" when they are really only "zero electricity" and heating with gas!
Kricket Smith-Gary

about 3 months ago

Back in the 1970's before HERS and "green" construction. lots of energy feaks were building homes that required no additional energy imput of any kind- our company included. We have 125 of them alone up and down the East coast, and into Colorado. I'm sure many other builders from that era did this as well. Our big challenge was not zero energy - ie no energy bills of any kind- but closed cycle- meaning no waste, reusing everything brought into the home. Of course the hardest part of that was the homeowner, but like the other builders, we worked with mostly professionals- engineers, doctors, etc- people who were willing any able to put time and thought into a closed cycle program. We onlyhave 12 of those. Since we get emails and cards from our past customers, I can vouch for most of the net zero homes still operating well.