CHECK OUT OUR FREE ZERO ENERGY NEWSLETTER (/SUBSCRIBE/) CLOSE 

Get Started Find Engage Commercial Products (https://zeroenergyproject.org/zero-energy-home-products/)

About Blog (https://zeroenergyproject.org/news/) 

AFFORDABLE ZERO ENERGY HOME CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN IN

12 Steps

Extremely Energy E cient Homes

Building and designing a ordable zero energy homes – the ultimate in energy e ciency – involves 12 integrated steps that utilize commonly available building materials
and equipment along with easy-to-learn building strategies. By following these steps, you can build a new home that is cost comparable to a conventional home
(https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/zero-homes-comparable-cost-standard-homes/).

1. Start with Smart Design

Cost-e ective zero net energy homes begin with smart design. Designers and architects, as well as builders, should be familiar with all the steps involved in energy e ciency and
building a net zero home, and should design the home so that builders and subcontractors can implement these steps as cost-e ectively as possible. There are several design
parameters to which builders should ask designers to pay special attention. Detailed communication between the builder and designer will ensure that these critical details don’t
fall through the cracks.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/1-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-DESIGN-PROCESS/)

2. Use Energy Modeling

During the design phase, the home’s energy use should be estimated using energy modeling software to ensure that the goal of net zero energy can be achieved while keeping
costs down. Based on the results, design choices can be made or modi ed to balance building performance and construction cost.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/USE-ENERGY-MODELING-COST-EFFECTIVE-ZE

3. Super-Seal the Building Envelope

Super-sealing the building envelope is the single most cost-e ective measure builders can take to improve the energy e ciency of a zero energy home. Several proven, air-
sealing approaches are available. Choose an approach that matches your climate, skills and budget.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SUPER-SEAL-NET-ZERO-BUILDING-ENVELOPE

4. Super-Insulate the Building Envelope
After making the house airtight, super insulating the house may be the second most cost-e ective strategy for creating a zero energy home. Energy modeling, as mentioned in
step 2, above, can help you optimize the insulation levels for the ceiling, walls and oors. Select framing strategies that make it easier to insulate the building envelope and
minimize thermal bridging.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SUPER-INSULATE-NET-ZERO-BUILDING-ENVE

5. Heat Water Wisely

Water heating is often the largest energy expense in a zero energy home after heating and cooling. So it is important for designers and builders to select and locate e cient hot
water heating technology, along with other measures, to minimize hot water use.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/HEAT-WATER-WISELY-DESIGNING-BUILDING-

6. Use Highly Insulated Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are like big energy holes in a well insulated, airtight building envelope and are the third most cost-e ective strategy for making a home energy e cient.
Control window and door heat loss and gain by selecting appropriate window and door products, carefully locating them, and optimizing their size and orientation.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SPECIFY-HIGHLY-INSULATED-WINDOWS-DOO

7. Use the Sun for Solar Tempering

Using the sun for heating through south facing windows during the winter lowers heating costs. Shading those same windows in summer lowers cooling costs. Solar tempering
aims to optimize this passive use of the sun’s heat, without incurring the added cost of thermal mass needed to achieve maximum passive solar heating.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/CHOOSE-SOLAR-TEMPERING-PASSIVE-SOLAR

8. Create an Energy E cient, Fresh Air Supply

Since zero energy homes are so airtight, a continuous source of fresh ltered air and moisture control are critical to its success. This need for ventilation has a silver lining: zero
energy homes are healthier and more comfortable than standard homes. Highly energy e cient ventilation systems, known as heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems or energy
recovery ventilation (ERV) systems expel stale air while recovering its heat and returning that same heat to the home with the fresh air.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/CREATE-ENERGY-EFFICIENT-FRESH-AIR-SUPP

9. Select an Energy E cient Heating and Cooling System

Highly-e cient, cost-e ective, heating and cooling systems are essential to meeting the net zero energy goal. One good choice is an air source ductless heat pump, also called a
mini-split heat pump. These systems are highly energy e cient and don’t have the shortcomings of central, forced-air systems or the high costs of thermal heat pumps.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SELECT-ENERGY-EFFICIENT-ZERO-ENERGY-HO

10. Install Energy E cient Lighting

Minimizing energy use for lighting, while optimizing light for residents, is an important feature of zero energy homes. LED lights are the perfect match for these tasks. They are
more energy e cient than CFLs, last many years longer, and contain no mercury. In addition, they can meet a variety of lighting needs from very bright white light to soft, warm
light. Selecting the right LED lights for the task, locating lights strategically, and utilizing natural light as e ectively as possible can drastically reduce a home’s energy use.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SELECT-ENERGY-EFFICIENT-LIGHTING-ZERO-E

11. Select Energy E cient Appliances and Electronics

In a typical zero energy home just over 40% of the home’s energy use is accounted for by heating, cooling and hot water, while appliances and plug loads may account for up to
60% of the load. Thus, selecting energy e cient appliances and managing “phantom” plug loads for electronics is essential. “Phantom” loads are hard to nd and continue to
draw energy unseen, day and night whether or not the devices are being used. Several homes that were modeled and built to zero energy standards have ended up not meeting
zero energy requirements in practice because of the unanticipated energy waste caused by “phantom” plug loads on electronics.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/SELECT-ENERGY-EFFICIENT-APPLIANCES-ELEC

12. Use the Sun for Renewable Energy

Grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) panels currently provide the most cost-e ective form of renewable energy for a zero energy home. They can power all the energy needs of a
home including lighting, heating and cooling systems, appliances and hot water. However, they are the most expensive component of a zero energy home and strategies for
reducing or mitigating those costs are important to consider.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/TWELVE-STEPS-AFFORDABLE-ZERO-ENERGY-HOME-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN/USE-SUN-RENEWABLE-ENERGY/)

Guidelines for Warmer Climates

While thick layers of insulation get most of the attention in cold climates, insulation needs less emphasis in warm climates. There
are several other issues that would be treated di erently in warm climates.

READ MORE (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/WARMER-CLIMATE-CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN-CONSIDERATIONS/)

 (https://www.facebook.com/ZEnergyProject/)  (https://twitter.com/Zerohomes) 
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4vaduR2gUc1BkR2ir-D7Aw) 
(http://www.houzz.com/pro/zeroenergyhomes/zero-energy-home) 
(https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ZerohomesOrg/)  (https://www.pinterest.com/zeroenergyhomes/) 
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeroenergyproject/)

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER (/SUBSCRIBE/)

BUYER (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUY/)
What are Zero Energy Homes? (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/zero-energy-homes/)
Cost Less to Own (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/cost-less-to-own/)
20 Advantages of Living in a Zero Energy Home (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/20-advantages-living-zero-energy-home/)
Zero Energy Home Care (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/zero-energy-home-care/)
Positive Energy Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/positive-energy-homes/)
Appraisal and Mortgage Strategies for Zero Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/appraisal-mortgage-strategies-zero-homes/)
Case Studies (https://zeroenergyproject.org/buy/case-studies/)

BUILDER / DESIGNER (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/BUILD/)

Zero Homes are Comparable in Cost to Standard Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/zero-homes-comparable-cost-standard-homes/)
Twelve Steps to A ordable Zero Energy Home Construction and Design (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/twelve-steps-a ordable-zero-energy-home-construction-design/)
Zero Energy Home Building and Design Course Calendar (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/zero-energy-home-building-design-course-calendar/)
Builder Subsidies, Incentives, and Tax Credits (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/loan-programs-incentives-tax-credits-energy-e ciency/)
Certifying Zero Energy Home Performance (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/certifying-zero-energy-home-performance/)
Zero Energy Building Case Studies (https://zeroenergyproject.org/zero-energy-building-case-studies/)
Resources for Builders and Designers (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/resources-builders-designers/)

SELLER (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/SELL/)
Zero Energy Homes of the Future are Available Today (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/zero-energy-homes-future-available-today/)
Zero Energy Home Sales Tips (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/zero-energy-homes-sales-tips/)
Zero Homes are Comparable in Cost to Standard Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/zero-homes-comparable-cost-standard-homes/)
Net Zero Home Sales and Appraiser Courses Online (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/net-zero-home-sales-appraiser-courses-online/)
Appraisal and Mortgage Strategies for Zero Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/appraisal-mortgage-strategies-zero-homes/)
Sales Kit (https://zeroenergyproject.org/build/sales-kit/)
Glossary of Zero Energy Terms (https://zeroenergyproject.org/sell/glossary-zero-energy-terms-real-estate-professionals/)

RENOVATOR (HTTPS://ZEROENERGYPROJECT.ORG/RENOVATE/)
Remodeling on the Path to Zero for Homeowners (https://zeroenergyproject.org/renovate/remodeling-path-zero-homeowners/)
Zero Energy Retro ts for Builders (https://zeroenergyproject.org/renovate/zero-energy-retro ts-builders/)
Financing Renewable Energy and Energy E ciency Upgrades for Existing Homes (https://zeroenergyproject.org/renovate/ nancing-renewable-energy-energy-e ciency-upgrades-existing-homes/)
Zero Energy Remodels Case Studies (https://zeroenergyproject.org/renovate/zero-energy-remodels-case-studies/)