The Ultimate Guide to Net-Zero Homes
If you’re like many people, you’re looking for long-term sustainability in housing – but what is a net-zero home, and is it the right choice for you? This guide explains.
The Ultimate Guide to Net-Zero Homes
Net-zero homes are the greenest housing option available. They’re homes that are designed to produce as much energy as they consume – and they’re growing in popularity. It’s no secret that buildings account for as much as 40 percent of all energy consumption in the United States each year, with homes accounting for as much as 21 percent of that… and that means it’s time for all of us to start looking toward homes that are more sustainable.
What’s Part of a Net-Zero Home?
Net-zero homes, which may use more energy in the winter and produce an excess of energy in the summer, all have these characteristics in common:
- Solar tempering
- Solar power
- Ultra-efficient insulation
- Carbon offset
Here’s a closer look at each.
Net-Zero Home Component #1: Solar Tempering
Solar tempering (sometimes called sun tempering) is a process that uses the sun’s light and heat to brighten and warm a house. That means orienting the home in the right direction and creating the right type of ventilation, and may include things like skylights or special windows that block out heat and light in the summer but allow it in during the winter.
Net-Zero Home Component #2: Solar Power
Solar panels are the best way to convert the sun’s energy into something usable to power a home. The amount of energy a single solar panel can produce will vary based on several factors – including its orientation and weather conditions – but generally speaking, solar panels pay for themselves over time by way of reduced energy costs.
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Net-Zero Home Component #3: Ultra-Efficient Insulation
No matter what type of home you have, whether it’s net-zero or not, you need super-efficient insulation to keep your energy consumption at a reasonable level. In net-zero homes, the insulation creates a protective barrier within the walls and in the floors and ceilings. If you’ve ever been in a cave where the temperature was 70-some degrees all year, you understand the concept; many net-zero homes have extra frame space in the walls and floors just for insulation.
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Net-Zero Home Component #4: Carbon Offset
It’s not enough to have energy-efficient features inside the home; a true net-zero home offsets the carbon it produces by taking in at least as much carbon as it’s responsible for creating (including in the manufacturing process). There are materials that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, though they’re currently expensive and hard to come by (like eco-friendly cements and plastics). One simple way to do that is to plant trees such as maples and poplars, which power through carbon dioxide like there’s no tomorrow.
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