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A comprehensive guide to understanding net-zero energy homes.
A net-zero home is a sustainable home designed to produce as much energy as (or more than) it consumes, resulting in a net-zero energy balance — in other words, virtually no grid-produced power. This is achieved through various energy-efficient features and renewable energy systems, such as solar panels.
In a typical home, the largest energy consumers are usually heating and cooling systems, appliances, lighting and electronics. To reduce the energy necessary to power these, net-zero homes incorporate energy-efficient features and systems designed to minimize energy usage in these areas.
Some of the key energy-efficient features of a net-zero home typically include:
This helps to prevent heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems such as spray foam in the block wall structure itself attic/trusses.
*Also reduces noise pollution*
This helps to prevent drafts and air leaks, which can cause energy loss and reduce the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
These windows are designed to minimize heat loss and gain, improving the efficiency of the home’s heating and cooling systems.
*Also reduces noise pollution*
These appliances use less energy than traditional appliances, reducing overall energy consumption.
This advanced technology captures the heat from the surrounding environment, such as your garage, and transfers it to the storage tank, where it heats the water. By leveraging the existing hot air, these water heaters can operate up to three times more efficiently than standard electric heaters.
A SEER rating indicates the maximum efficiency you can achieve with your HVAC system. In terms of dollars and cents, a 16 SEER unit is about 13% more efficient than a 14 SEER unit.
In addition to these energy-efficient features, net-zero homes also incorporate renewable energy systems, such as solar panels. Solar panels generate electricity from the sun, which powers a net-zero home.
When a net-zero home generates more energy than it consumes, the excess energy can either be stored for later use or sold back to a utility company, offsetting the cost of electricity when solar panels are not generating enough power.
The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is a nationally recognized system used to measure homes’ energy efficiency.
The HERS Index is a scoring system that ranges from 0 to 150, with lower scores indicating greater energy efficiency. The HERS Index is based on various factors that impact a home’s energy consumption, such as insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling systems, and lighting.
A certified Home Energy Rater, who conducts an energy audit of homes using specialized equipment and software, determines the HERS Index rating.
A home with a HERS Index of 100 is considered the baseline standard for new homes, meaning it meets the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requirements. A lower HERS Index score indicates greater energy efficiency, with a score of 0 representing a net-zero energy home (a home that produces as much energy as it consumes).
The HERS Index score can be used to compare the energy efficiency of different homes and identify improvement opportunities. For example, a homeowner may use the HERS Index score to identify areas where they can make energy-efficient upgrades to their home, such as adding insulation or upgrading to a more efficient heating and cooling system.
In the case of Brite Homes, which falls between -9 and -12 on the HERS scale, this indicates a net-zero energy-rated home that produces more energy than it consumes. This results in significant savings for homeowners each year, as they rely less on traditional energy sources and may even generate income by selling excess energy back to the grid. Additionally, net-zero energy homes can positively impact the environment by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable living.
Net-zero energy combines various energy-efficient technologies and practices to balance the energy consumed and the amount of renewable energy generated. This balance is achieved by following the four fundamental principles of net-zero energy: energy-efficient design, renewable energy sources, energy storage and energy monitoring.
Energy-efficient design minimizes energy consumption by incorporating energy-efficient technologies and practices into the home’s design. This includes high-efficiency insulation, triple-paned windows, and efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Reducing energy consumption minimizes the amount of renewable energy required to power the home.
Renewable energy sources are a critical component of net-zero energy. This involves using renewable energy sources such as solar panels to generate electricity and reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. These renewable energy systems are designed to generate enough energy to meet the needs of the home while also producing excess energy that can be stored for later use.
Energy storage systems are used to store excess energy generated during times of low demand to be used during times of high demand later. This ensures that the home has a reliable energy source even if the renewable sources do not generate enough energy to meet demand.
Energy monitoring systems are used to track energy usage in real-time, identify areas of inefficiency and make adjustments to improve energy performance. These systems inform homeowners about their energy usage patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions about optimizing their energy use and reducing waste.
Net-zero homes and energy-efficient homes are two types of homes that are built to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly than older existing homes. While they share some similarities, there are also many key differences between them. Here are the main pros and cons of each home type:
Net-zero homes may include solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal systems and other renewable energy sources to generate electricity and generate as much energy as they consume.
Energy-efficient homes use less energy than traditional homes but do not create more energy than consumed the way a net-zero home does.
Retrofitting a home for solar and building a new home with built-in solar are two approaches to achieving greater energy efficiency. See the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Retrofitting a home for solar involves upgrading and modifying an existing home to improve its energy efficiency and incorporate renewable energy sources. This can include adding insulation, upgrading windows and installing a solar panel system.
Retrofitting can pose challenges to homeowners because it typically requires modifying an existing structure, which may not always be feasible. For instance, the roof must be in excellent condition for an existing home to be ready for a solar installation. Suppose the home’s roof (or other components) isn’t in good enough condition. In that case, the homeowner is now faced with additional costs that make retrofitting for solar much more expensive than purchasing a home that comes with built-in solar.
Additionally, retrofitting may not achieve the same level of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation as a home built from the ground up with net-zero solar features.
Building a new home with built-in solar involves designing and constructing a home with energy-efficient features and renewable energy systems from the outset.
This eliminates the need for the costly, inconvenient, time-consuming and potentially challenging retrofitting of an existing home (i.e., roof replacement or some other major renovation) and allows for greater control over the home’s energy performance.
Net-zero homes are better for the environment in a variety of ways. First, they significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall energy consumption. By incorporating energy-efficient design and renewable energy sources, net-zero homes can generate their own electricity, reducing the reliance on non-renewable sources of energy.
In turn, this significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, helping combat climate change.
Additionally, net-zero homes can reduce the grid’s demand for energy, which means fewer fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity. This reduces the overall environmental impact of energy production, including air pollution, water pollution and the release of greenhouse gases.
Moreover, net-zero homes can also help to reduce the strain on local and regional energy infrastructure, which can become overburdened during periods of peak demand. By reducing the need for energy from the grid, net-zero homes can help to prevent blackouts/brownouts and promote greater energy security and resilience.
Net-zero homes are better for the environment in a variety of ways. First, they significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall energy consumption. By incorporating energy-efficient design and renewable energy sources, net-zero homes can generate their own electricity, reducing the reliance on non-renewable sources of energy.
In turn, this significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, helping combat climate change.
Additionally, net-zero homes can reduce the grid’s demand for energy, which means fewer fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity. This reduces the overall environmental impact of energy production, including air pollution, water pollution and the release of greenhouse gases.
Moreover, net-zero homes can also help to reduce the strain on local and regional energy infrastructure, which can become overburdened during periods of peak demand. By reducing the need for energy from the grid, net-zero homes can help to prevent blackouts/brownouts and promote greater energy security and resilience.
Yes! Most net-zero homes are still connected to the grid, allowing traditional energy sources to be tapped into when renewable energy generation cannot meet the home’s energy demand.
Not only do energy-efficient homes have much lower utility bills, but they also cost significantly less to maintain than traditional, unrated homes.
Energy-efficient homes help reduce greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions, which significantly help with air quality, atmospheric pollutants and slowing climate change.
Net-zero homes can be certified by organizations such as the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) or the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. These certifications ensure that the home meets certain standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, some features of a net-zero home may come with warranties from the manufacturer or installer, such as solar panels or geothermal systems.
The upfront costs of purchasing a new net-zero energy home can vary depending on factors such as location, size and features. Generally, they may be more expensive than traditional homes but this is offset by the energy savings and incentives such as tax credits and rebates.
Ready to take the first step toward lower energy bills, an eco-friendly lifestyle and long-term savings? Contact Brite Homes to learn more about our net-zero energy homes.