Zero Energy Attainable Homes

Developed and Built by:

Imagine a home that produces as much energy as it consumes. That is what is meant by "Net-Zero" or "Zero Energy."

The forumula for achieving a Zero Energy home is fairly simple: Significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to operate the home through high efficiency equipment and a very well sealed and insulated building, and then generate the energy that the home does need through a renewable energy system.

The challenge is making this formula cost effective
for the builder and affordable for the home buyer. Transformations has done just that.

Step 1: Baseline energy reduction - saving 60%

Our base plans provide for approximately a 60% reduction in the homes' energy usage (each model/lot will vary a few percentage points). The homes will call for 12" thick walls filled with low density foam insulation (R value of 3.9 per inch or R-46 for the cavity wall) and triple glazed windows.

These homes will be built to minimize air infiltration and leakage. This helps reduce drafts resulting in a more comfortable home. The low infiltration helps reduce the peak heat load down to 12,100 BTU's per hour for the Farmhouse model. In other words, it can be heated with the equivalent amount of energy required to operate two 1,800 watt hair dryers! That is the amount of energy it takes to bring up the inside temperature to 70 degrees when it is 2 degrees outside.

Step 2: Energy Generation

By either leasing or purchasing solar electric panels, our homes can become Zero Energy attainable homes. The end result is a home that has the ability to produce as much energy as it consumes. The various models have different capacity to install solar electric panels, which will effect how much energy can be produced by each home. The ability to achieve Zero Energy is also dependant on the energy consumption behaviors of the homeowner. The homes have been designed so that a homeowner can generate as much electricity as is consumed on a yearly basis.