Advancing toward zero with cost and constructability in mind
What's a zero energy home? Zero energy homes produce as much energy as they consume in a given year through a combination of conservation and renewable energy strategies that offset energy used for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, lighting, appliances and plug-in devices. They are typically being built on a smaller scale today, in boutique communities or as custom homes. But, they don't make sense for the majority of builders on a production scale, and they aren't affordable for most homebuyers.
Ultimately, the Alliance wants to make sure that these homes can be built cost-effectively on a massive scale, while delivering the other fundamentals of a quality house that homeowners expect such as comfort, safety, and clean air and water. It will be a challenge, but we're confident that, with the right combinations of energy conservation and renewable strategies and the right business models in place, homebuilders will be able to take zero energy homes from custom, "special order" projects to full-scale production, driving down the cost of construction and making these homes affordable for the average homebuyer. And, zero energy neighborhoods will become commonplace in cities and towns throughout the country.
Together, we're looking at advanced approaches to key technical systems—the thermal enclosure; heating, cooling and ventilation; lighting; appliances; electrical and plug-in devices—and how those systems work with each other to reach zero energy.
An embodiment of this research is our Energy Efficiency Lab Home, currently being constructed in Pittsburgh. Visit Energy Efficiency Lab Home to learn more about the project and our partners.
