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Future-Proofing Your Home with Net Zero Ready
The residential building sector accounts for a large portion of global electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. If you have dreams of reducing your home's energy use drastically, then a net zero ready home might be for you.
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What is a Net Zero Ready Home?
A Net Zero Ready home is designed and built to the same standards as a Net Zero home without solar panels. A Net Zero Ready home is wired so that in the future, as solar or other renewable energies become more affordable, solar panels or other options can be installed. In essence, a Net Zero Ready home provides a net-zero home's benefits without all of the initial financial investment. This home type offers a streamlined, efficient path to achieve Net Zero Energy when the homeowner is ready and able to pursue it.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) defines a Net Zero Ready home as follows:
A Net Zero Ready Home is a high-performance home which is so energy efficient, that a renewable energy system can offset all or most of its annual energy consumption.
A DOE Net Zero Energy Ready Home, for example, is designed and built to operate 40% to 50% more efficiently than a traditional home and is third-party verified to ensure reliability. While less than 2% of newly constructed homes are Net Zero Ready, this market is growing and increasing in popularity.
Want to see some examples of Net-Zero Ready Homes? Head over to the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website that provides virtual tours of 260 Net-Zero Ready Homes across the United States.
Why Design and Build Net Zero Ready Homes?
By introducing Net-Zero Ready Homes into the market, we can help to lower the environmental impact of homes. Net Zero Homes reduce the reliance on the energy sector, thus improving their resiliency. In essence, the net-zero movement is too critical not to succeed.
Moreover, a home designed to Net Zero standards will save substantial operational costs throughout its lifetime. Some builders, such as Wright Jenkins, advertise up to 70% in operational cost savings. Considering the increased comfort, safety, and durability elements, they are a reliable investment for consumers, builders, and developers. Net Zero Homes are also a good option for those interested in disaster relief homes. Many Net Zero Homes follow the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety's FORTIFIED program.
Are Net Zero Ready Homes Expensive?
A Net Zero Ready Home is typically more expensive than a typical home. However, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, the cost increase is modest and smaller than most consumers realize. Net Zero Ready Homes implement cost-competitive design strategies to keep prices as reasonable as possible. And as this market matures, costs should become even more affordable.
Another report prepared by the DOE illustrates the cost savings of a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home compared to a baseline home monthly. In addition, some states provide financial incentives for buildings built to these standards.
Currently, most certifications are for individual homes. However, the DOE is developing a certification program for multi-family residences that should provide a streamlined process for affordable certifications of multiple houses at once.
What is a Net Zero Ready House Plan?
A Net Zero Ready House Plan is a set of construction documents for a home designed to Net Zero standards, including wiring for future solar PV installation or another type of renewable energy. Take a look here for some examples of plans.
Case Study: Healthy Communities
Healthy Communities is a builder in Virginia specializing in Net Zero Energy Ready Homes certified under the DOE's Certification program. They are known for their Walnut Farms and Villas at Rocketts Landing housing communities that provide 40% to 50% more efficient homes than traditional homes. Walnut Farms consists of 75 Net Zero Energy Ready Homes and is the first community in the region. Likewise, the Villas at Rocketts Landing includes 45 homes that went an extra step to have solar power - achieving its reputation as Virginia's first solar community.
In addition to creating custom plans, Healthy Communities provides over a dozen home plans that meet local building codes and are Net Zero Energy Ready. These plans range in size and cost but typically average around $400,000 per home. Their work speaks for themselves - they have won the National Department of Energy Housing Innovative award five years in a row!
Maria Saxton
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Maria Saxton holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. She works as an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher for a local firm specializing in Community Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation. Her dissertation explored the environmental impacts of small-scale homes. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Tiny Home Industry Association.
