Once the home reduces its need for energy, renewable electricity is generated with solar panel systems, home-scale wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources. The renewable energy system needs to be sized appropriately to produce enough electricity to offset total annual energy consumption - that's where the term "net" comes in. For example, solar panels will produce more electricity on bright, sunny days, but nothing at night. So, the home needs to produce more renewable energy than consumed during the day to offset needs at night when electricity is pulled from the grid. A zero-carbon home could also purchase a battery storage unit, like the Tesla Powerwall, to use stored power at night and reduce or eliminate reliance on the grid. So, a zero-carbon home's goal is to be carbon neutral. It produces just as much energy as it uses.

There is some debate over whether a home's carbon footprint should include transportation. A house's location plays a significant role in carbon emissions from driving to and from work, school, etc. Homeowners with electric cars should size renewable energy systems to produce enough electricity to charge their electric vehicles to become a genuine zero-carbon home.

Is it possible to have a carbon-neutral home without installing renewable energy systems? Yes, depending on how you look at it. To offset electricity from a grid that relies on fossil fuels, you would need to purchase enough renewable energy to offset your consumption. This can be achieved either through purchasing renewable energy credits on the market or through your utility if it offers a program to buy all wind or solar power from the grid.

Monitor Your Energy Use

It is important to monitor your home's energy use to ensure it is operating as expected. By doing this, you will verify that the house is genuinely producing as much energy as it is consuming. This means comprehending utility bills and setting up a monitoring system to track renewable energy production.