Why Build a Net-Zero House Or Passive Home?
Why Build a Net-Zero House Or Passive Home?
Building a new home from the ground up is a significant investment for most families. In addition to the cost, it can be difficult to reconcile the desire to build your dream home while adhering to “green” values that support the planet at this time.
In other words, how can you take into consideration the number of carbon emissions created in building a home and be environmentally responsible as well? A high performance, energy-efficient home reduces carbon emissions over the life span of the building. It also drastically reduces the annual operating costs of your home. It is possible to do right by the planet and benefit from substantial monthly savings from energy costs at the same time.
Half of all energy savings in a Passive Home are a result of good design.
Working with an experienced team in the design stage is crucial to achieving high performance while controlling costs. Here are several principles that will keep environmental impacts and costs to a minimum:
Making It Small
•A well-designed home can be small without compromising functionality •Reducing the number of exterior corners in the floor plan is energy-efficient and cost-effective •Select a simple roof design •Plan for solar panel space on the south-facing roof
Super-Insulate
When building a Passive House in cold climates, floors, walls, windows, and roofs all contain an extra layer of insulation(Net-Zero House). Some foam insulation materials have enormous carbon footprints. Plant-based materials like cellulose may store carbon in your home. The wrong insulation choice could contribute to a very large carbon footprint.
Make it Airtight
Making sure your home is airtight is one of the most cost-effective upgrades. According to the U.S Department of Energy, air leakage through the conventional building shell accounts for 40 -50% of all heat loss, in a Passive House air leaking is reduced by 6 times over.
Simple Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Systems
No central heating system is needed in your Passive House. Constructing a super-efficient “shell” means you can install smaller, easy to operate heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment. Ventilation equipment ensures constant fresh air is delivered to your living spaces.
Design for Passive Solar
With good solar access, it is possible to further reduce the need for heating in your home. Good solar access provides free winter heating from the sun.
Less Energy Consumption = Fewer Solar Panels Needed to Reach Net Zero
Net Zero means your home produces as much energy as it uses over the year. Photo Voltaic Solar panels make electricity. In most Net Zero homes, the electrical grid acts as a battery. The panels on your home produce electricity that is sold into the grid, and the house draws back the electricity it needs. Over the year, this balances out to zero. This is typically called Net Metering.
The optimal way to achieve Net-Zero is to reduce the amount of energy consumed by your home. It is cheaper to conserve energy than to generate it. In a Passive House, energy use is reduced by 65-75%; thus, only a small number of solar panels are needed.
Rebates and Incentives Throughout North America, rebates are available for new home construction and solar systems. Take some time to research rebates and incentives available in your region before designing your home.
Finishing Materials Are Key Cost Drivers
Costs are driven by the homeowner’s expectations for their fixtures and finishes. It is not uncommon for luxury countertops to cost the same as all of the efficiency upgrades. What Does It Cost?
A small increase in overall building costs (0%-12%) results in a 65%-75% reduction in energy consumption. This means you can heat a three-bedroom home for $200 a year. Making a Sustainable Choice of a Net-Zero House.
Given the state of our planet, lowering the carbon footprint for many homeowners is becoming a higher priority. Buildings account for more than 1/3 of the carbon emissions in North America. The U.S and Canada have the 2nd and 4th highest per capita carbon footprints globally. Choosing a Passive Home is one of the most impactful decisions you can make to positively contribute to the fight against climate change.
About Natalie Leonard
Natalie Leonard is a Certified Passive House Consultant and Certified Passive House Builder. As an engineer and the President of Passive Design Solutions, she has completed over 100 Passive House projects that are Net Zero Ready-Net-Zero House. Committed to reducing the housing industry’s notable carbon footprint, the team has recently launched a line of ready-to-build Passive House design plans available online to the general population.
