What Is NZE?
3609 Gradyville Road (Left) and 3607 Gradyville Road (right)
Net Zero Energy (NZE) homes are just like any home, except better! They are so air-tight, well-insulated, and energy efficient that they produce as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year, leaving the occupants with a net zero energy bill, and a carbon-free home.
An NZE home is not just a “green home” or a home with solar panels. A Net Zero Energy home combines advanced design and superior building systems with energy efficiency and on-site solar panels to produce a better home. NZE homes are ultra-comfortable, healthy, quiet, sustainable homes that are affordable to live in.
We are spec-building two exceptional NZE homes with
Elevator and 100% wheelchair accessibility
dedicated home offices
true clear-span open plan
and much else
See these links to Zillow listings:
Why NZE?
Net Zero Energy combines building technologies to reduce the need for energy and also to create a surplus of energy that runs the electric meter backward. The net effect is an average energy bill of zero. A zero carbon “footprint”.
What is the value of all of this over a conventional home? A simple equation brings all of those subjects together. Energy is a resource. Some will find that satisfying on its own, having a zero carbon footprint, making a difference in the future of our environment. Others will understand it by the numbers in this simple equation:
E = $
Energy equals Money
(and so much more).
$10,569
savings per year
$480,571
future value of savings over 20 years
$134,433
More purchasing power
$53,200 Tax Credits
a further benefit of NZE
What is a HERS Index?
NZE is Better by Design
As the owner of an NZE home, you would have these Benefits:
Your NZE home will save you $10,569 per year in energy costs [note a] compared to a similarly sized new home built to the current building codes. These projections are certified by an accredited energy consultant >>>
The Future Value of these energy savings to you over 20 years = $480,000 over a current new code-built home [note b] that’s based on energy prices staying constant. Inflation, increased energy costs, political factors, and environmental changes will only ADD to this future value. These projections are calculated by an independent Green Energy consultant >>>
The annual savings means your NZE savings pays for itself in “Green Energy Premium”. For a $203 more per month, you can afford $110,000 to $134,000 more NZE home than a code-built “energy efficient” home. for the same payments [note c] >>>
You will be able to credit up to 30% of the cost of the NZE energy features of your new home from your federal taxes. Available Federal Tax credits for energy features total up to $53.200, (IRS form 5695. Line 4, Consult your accountant.)
Numbers and dollars are only a shorthand in telling the story of the tremendous satisfaction in guarding your finances and your security in the face of an uncertain energy future.
Certified Energy Analysis
Third Party Economic Analysis
The HERS Index scale
HERS is the “Home Energy Rating System”. It is the gold standard for rating a home’s energy efficiency. It is the International Building Code Council’s official way to measure and test overall home energy efficiency.
The lower the HERS Index score the better. The analysis is performed by an accredited third-party energy rater. HERS index analyzes the building envelope for insulation value, infiltration, window and door efficiency, HVAC efficiency, and alternative energy sources like Solar and GeoThermal.
Existing homes have a HERS index of about 130.
A standard new home in the US has a HERS score of 100.
A new home built to the current building code has a HERS score of about 60 (the blue arrow).
Our Net Zero Energy homes have a HERS score of 0. (the green arrow)
A home gets to be NZE-certified by the following steps
Creative design. Here is an overview of some of the NZE design and engineering that makes NZE happen.
Third-party energy analysis and certification Prior to construction, energy calculations and HERS Index are certified by an outside energy consultant
Third-party inspection and testing. During Construction, an accredited third-party energy inspector does the following
Visual inspection assures design features are implemented.
Blower door test: the house is negatively pressurized and all joints are inspected with a “bee-keeper smoke gun” to find and correct infiltration or air movement around windows, doors, and seams.
A typical well-sealed home will rate at 4-ACH***.
A HERS=0 NZE home will rate at 1.6 ACH, 250% better.
*** ACH = Air Changes per Hour as a proportion of the home’s volume
Duct Blast Test A pressure test of the HVAC ductwork to correct leaks and energy loss