Building a Net Zero Home: The Future in Home Building

Luckily, it’s possible! Net Zero Homes are built on the forefront of sustainability, giving homeowners the opportunity to live in a space that is innovative, reliable, and energy efficient. The Government of Canada even states that they will be working with provinces and territories to “develop a net-zero energy ready model building code, with the goal that provinces and territories adopt it by 2030.”

The Three Key Attributes That Make a Net Zero Home

1. Building for energy efficiency

There are many factors that go into building an energy efficient home, including the products used, the technologies implemented, and the overall design of the home. One of the many things Net Zero Home construction includes is significant insulation to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

They are also built with special attention given to the general orientation on the building site so the home can maximize sun intake to reduce energy requirements in winter months. In the summer months, other Net Zero features such as roof overhangs, shading devices, and native vegetation will prevent overheating inside the home and reduce the need to cool inside air.

Other building considerations include energy efficient ventilation to create high indoor air quality, systems to recover energy otherwise wasted from outgoing exhaust air and wastewater, and the installation of ENERGY STAR appliances.

2. Energy production

After a home’s energy needs have been reduced with energy-efficient building materials, the next step is to build a system to produce renewable energy to run the home. The most common option is a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system, though energy can also be harvested with wind turbines or solar thermal collectors linked to seasonal thermal energy storage (STES).

A great advantage to having a PV system is that it connects to the grid so that it can deliver electricity back. This allows for a continuous and reliable supply of energy regardless of how much energy is being generated on site. Plus, Alberta’s Micro-generation Regulation Program offers a great incentive – if you use more energy than you produce, you get a credit on your power bill.

3. Energy use

While a Net Zero Home is built to be as energy efficient as possible, net-zero levels can only be achieved by reducing the amount of energy used to run the house. This is much easier to do with a Net Zero Home, as every aspect was built to reduce energy usage. However, homeowners should be cognizant of doing the usual activities to reduce energy usage, like unplugging small appliances when not in use, using a quick wash for laundry when clothes are lightly soiled, and lowering the thermostat on your water heater.

Overall, a Net Zero Home offers lower utility bills, a healthy living space, and a greener choice for the environment.

Contact us to learn more!