Zero-Energy Home Design

As I flipped through the Nov/Dec issue of Solar Today magazine, a publication from the American Solar Energy Society that keeps me updated on the latest advances in solar technology from around the world, an article titled “The Zero-Energy Home Challenge” caught my attention. The article was written by a man name R. Carter Scott. Scott’s company, Transformations, Inc, entered a competition in their home state of Massachusetts that was designed by the Massachusetts New Homes with Energy Star program to get the local building industry motivated to build affordable, energy-efficient homes for consumers in the region.

The criteria in the article for the homes in the competition included a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index below 35, meaning that the home uses 65 percent less energy than a home built with traditional practices and according to standard building codes. Scott’s challenge to his team: create a home with a HERS index of 0—in other words, a home that is zero-energy! In the article, Scott defines a zero-energy home as one that “produces as much energy as it uses, so the owner purchases no energy on an annual basis.” This may seem like a confusing notion, but when you factor in a photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy system that produces the majority of the home’s energy for consumption, it begins to make sense. In Scott’s design, a PV system to generate the home’s electricity was combined with a solar water-heating system to meet the home’s energy needs.

Scott outlines several more hurtles his team jumped to achieve the zero energy rating, such as choosing premium windows, insulating with high-density cellulose and creating a “hot-roof” (described as “an unvented, super-insulated roof”). The team also installed a Mitsubishi Mr. Slim split-ductless air-source heat pump, a low-energy and cost-efficient option they were able to utilize thanks to the house’s ultra-efficient, high-performance windows. Out of six teams, Scott’s was the only one to achieve the coveted 0 HERS index.

This article intrigued me for a couple of reasons, not the least of which was the $195,200 price tag on this attractive 3-bedroom, 2-bath house. Although the design is only 1,232-square-feet including the basement, that’s a heck of a deal, even before factoring in the energy savings the homeowner will reap year after year. I took my interest a step further and downloaded the set of plans for the “Needham home” as it’s referred to in the article. Imagine my surprise to see that it was a nearly-complete set of plans that could be used to obtain a permit from Anne Arundel County this afternoon! Very little legwork needs to be done on this project, which attributes to even more savings for someone looking to build this project.

As for me, I’m filing these plans away for the time being. However, I’d love to put Scott’s concepts to work in the near future. Send me an e-mail if you would like a copy of the building plans -questions@askmarkbartlett.com.

To read the Solar Today magazine article- Click Here