{"id":1895,"date":"2021-12-15T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=1895"},"modified":"2024-04-25T23:19:22","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T03:19:22","slug":"the-rise-of-the-zero-carbon-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/the-rise-of-the-zero-carbon-home\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of the Zero-Carbon Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Trend Whose Time Has Come<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The way we use energy at home can increase or limit greenhouse gases. As climate disruption is a pressing issue for everyone, \u201cgreen\u201d buildings and habits aren\u2019t just nice to have\u2014they\u2019ve become essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green home innovations are enabling homeowners to turn natural forces into heating, air conditioning, and electricity to power appliances and devices. Electric cars can now be charged in people\u2019s garages. Renewable power can be efficiently stored, with the excess redirected into the grid to help power whole communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All our readers can play a part. From deciding on green architecture, to planning simple upgrades for a home you own today, to finding eco-minded investment opportunities, here\u2019s the scoop, Q&A-style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Do We Define the Zero-Carbon Home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zero-carbon homes, sometimes called zero-energy homes, are residences that meet especially high energy-efficiency standards. You\u2019ll sometimes hear the term net-zero. That can get murky, but it generally means the greenhouse gases a house emits get offset by the amount spared by green features and energy habits. Can a household, for example, generate enough clean power to make up for the energy used? Can the annual energy a household needs from the grid be returned to the grid? This is the goal of a net-zero home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while many people are making their homes and their habits more energy-efficient, some are going for net-zero emissions, and builders are now offering homes that embed the goal into their design. For these builders, there\u2019s more to zero-carbon than solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green architecture focuses on natural building materials\u2014native to the area, when possible, to cut shipping energy. Natural materials can reduce both energy and pollution, while resulting in better household air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Price Tag for a Zero-Carbon Home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In cost terms, zero-carbon homes typically run from 5 to 15 percent higher similar-sized, regular homes. That said, the upfront premium on a green home will gradually \u2014 after three to seven years \u2014 be paid back by the house through electricity savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there are the tax breaks. Some of the costs of renewable energy equipment and installation are refunded to the homeowner by the federal government. Check for state and local tax advantages for renewable power, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip:<\/em><\/strong> Looking for a cheaper option with the home you have now? You may be able to get renewable energy through your local energy company. There are a number of renewable power companies that allow you to sign up, while your bill is still generated from your regular utility. Renewable power tends to be available for about the same cost as coal-generated power today.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are There Special Building Materials and Methods for Zero-Carbon Homes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it\u2019s all about special materials and methods. Architects plan window placement and slope the roof in the way that best optimizes a future home’s ability to catch sunlight and hold warmth in through the colder months. To use natural resources efficiently, they may work with geothermal heating. Natural gas is a no-no. It\u2019s a greenhouse-gas culprit, albeit a more cost-efficient one than coal. Plus, it emits volatile chemicals that can compromise a home\u2019s air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also options for renewable energy storage. Why? Because, for example, solar panels can generate a fair amount of power on a sunny summer day \u2014 and not so much on a rainy one. To lessen the home\u2019s dependence on the grid (or to go off-grid), the home will need a battery capable of holding extra energy for days when it\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important note:<\/em><\/strong> Global carbon emissions are attributed to our food and transit systems as well as to our buildings. Thus, a house’s location (is the area walkable, or car-dependent?) plays a significant role in carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About Green Upgrades for an Existing Home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Maybe you already have a home you\u2019re planning to live in for years. And you are wondering if your existing house can become a zero-carbon home.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could work. Consider that upgrading your existing home is typically more efficient than building anew. Why? Because so much energy and so many resources are used in materials and construction for new homes. Half of the low-carbon effort involves the energy used at home; the other half of the carbon equation is in all the energy used in extracting and shipping raw materials, then in making and delivering the building products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some settings, a net-zero energy house isn\u2019t achievable. Maybe the south-facing roof surface is under the shade of a mountain outcropping, or an award-winning sycamore. Maybe the climate is simply too harsh. But even if you can\u2019t get to net-zero, you can still improve your home\u2019s energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where would you start? You can seek out a certified energy adviser, and put your home through an energy audit. A professional can advise on some straightforward renovations, and point you to certified contractors in your area. Simple upgrades may include solar-powered and geothermal heat options, and sealants to keep warmth and cooling inside the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Design Rules for an Actual Carbon-Neutral Home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One Canadian company is proving you don\u2019t need to live in a yurt to have an authentically eco-friendly home. Check out the Eco-Habitat S1600 LEED house: tour the home in virtual reality here<\/a>, using your arrow keys. Note the carbon-absorbing garden on the patio roof. There\u2019s even a running planter over the kitchen cabinets. Every detail is planned for beauty, air quality, and eco awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the specifics that architects have learned from designing and testing these futuristic homes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n