Comments on: A Net Zero Energy Home in a Beautiful Green Community

By: Art Smith

Art Smith — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 00:04:02 +0000

Net-Zero goal is good...but
Net-Zero goal is good...but is $300 per s.f. cost range the type home we should be touting?(after the world's largest equity/housing melt-down) My upcoming simpler retirement home "Solar Wedge" with 1900sf of space (1536 main floor plus 380sf lofts) construction budget is less than $100 sf. By adding only 3000 watt PV (12 panels)it will be close to Net-Zero. (near-net) Folks...we need more modesty...which will beget more integrity for our industry.

$700K price tag examples are far up in the top 5% cost of American homes! We need real examples of practical Net-Zero that real people can relate too.

By: David Butler

David Butler — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 07:59:35 +0000

@Geoff, I agree (re: high
@Geoff, I agree (re: high prices for showcase homes). Just throwing money at a project isn't very interesting. But one reason this particular home may cost so much is the steep lot prices at Serenbe. Before the crash, I understand some lots sold for well over $200k.

Hey Conor, those ducts are sold as accessories with the Zehnder ERV. I believe they're made in Europe.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 02:04:18 +0000

geoff h.:
geoff h.: I agree with you. I've written about Habitat here before and the great work they're doing. Most recently, I wrote about a Habitat home in North Carolina that really impressed me. In addition, check out the three other net zero energy homes I've written about. They're linked in the 'Related Articles' section at the bottom of this article. The objective of Matt & Amy in the first one, again in NC, was "to build for the same amount as everyone else." After factoring in the incentives they received, their cost was $156 per square foot.

Conor R.: Yes, those are ducts for the ERV. Since it doesn't move a lot of air (this one has a maximum rate of 215 cfm), it's not going to have to move it very fast, so with the ducts you see above, it's probably not going to be a high velocity system.

By: Conor Rickard

Conor Rickard — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 23:12:19 +0000

Hey there,

Hey there,

What are the flex tubes for. They are described as ducts. Is this a high velocity system?

Thank you

By: geoff hartman

geoff hartman — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:22:29 +0000
These showcase projects are
These showcase projects are always inspiring. However, wouldn't it be nice to see success in affordable scale developments and mass produced (tract) housing?

Theses showcases project the message that only expensive, large, and exclusive neighborhoods can achieve these levels of performance, and then only with vendor participation.

I would like to see a 1st time buyer community, or Habitat project, that achieves great performance at a price premium of maybe 2-3% to 5%, with reduced maintenance, energy, and insurance that offsets the premium.

Still, don't mean to diminish achievement on this building, or hurdles overcome by all contractors and the Rater/Inspector/Verifier. Great work!

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:34:02 +0000
Kim S.:
Kim S.: Yes, that is amazing. Luis has investors who put up the money, plus he did a good job of getting products and materials donated by manufacturers. I don't know the actual square footage, but I'm pretty sure it's closer to 2500 than 3500 sf, maybe even less.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:28:13 +0000
Mike M.:
Mike M.: They got ENERGY STAR V3, so they had to commission the systems, including the ERV. I don't know how it turned out.

By: Kim Shanahan

Kim Shanahan — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:25:03 +0000
The most amazing thing about
The most amazing thing about this home is that it is a spec! Money was available somewhere? And an appraisal supports the sale price? If so, that truly is amazing. If so, I would like details on that as much as on the gizmos that got it to negative two.

The "for sale" link has no mention of square footage, but at $700K I'm guessing it is at least 3,500.

By: Mike MacFarland

Mike MacFarland — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:06:54 +0000
Allison- do you know if any
Allison- do you know if any of the performance has been measured on the ERV like static, flow, and power? Just curious.

That is a handsome place- nice work Luis!

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:23:53 +0000
geoff h.:
geoff h.: I just added that info to the article. I meant to get it in there the first time, so thanks for the nudge. The HERS Index was -2, and I believe they installed a 9 kW PV system.