Net-Zero Home

A net-zero home produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year, achieving this balance through a two-pronged strategy of dramatically reducing energy demand and generating the remaining needs from on-site renewable sources, typically rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. The concept gained prominence in the early 2000s as solar panel costs began their steep decline and building science advanced to the point where residential energy consumption could be reduced by 60 to 80 percent compared to conventional construction. Today, thousands of net-zero homes have been built worldwide, and several jurisdictions including California have adopted building codes that require net-zero or near-net-zero performance for new residential construction. Achieving net-zero performance requires an integrated design approach where every system works in concert. The building envelope is superinsulated and airtight, windows are high-performance and strategically positioned, mechanical systems are ultra-efficient with heat recovery, lighting is entirely LED, appliances are the most efficient available, and hot water is provided by heat pump technology. After these demand reductions, a right-sized solar array generates enough electricity to cover the remaining annual consumption, with grid-tied systems using the electrical grid as a virtual battery, exporting surplus summer production and drawing during winter months. For interior designers, net-zero homes represent spaces of extraordinary comfort, with stable temperatures, excellent air quality, abundant natural light, and the satisfaction of energy independence.