As a homeowner, one of your biggest concerns is how you can lower down your energy bills. We use energy almost every minute of every day, and if you don’t know how to save up energy, you’ll end up paying expensive energy bills every month. When you take a hot bath, when you turn on the HVAC system or watch your favorite TV shows, you are using energy. You can’t afford to lose all the benefits you experienced using electricity, but is there a way to save energy? Yes – through zero net energy buildings.
What is a zero net energy building?
This is a method of construction designed to achieve an energy-efficient, grid-connected structure that can generate energy from a renewable source to provide for its energy demand. It can be a house or a building. With zero net energy design of a building or a home, the result is net-zero energy consumption which means that the total energy use of a home or a building on a yearly basis is just equal to the created amount of renewable sources on the site.
Zero net energy aims to maximize the use of Photovoltaic panels, passive solar heat gain and shading. Combined with thermal mass to stabilize the different temperatures throughout the day, zero energy buildings and homes are the future towards cleaner and more efficient use of energy. Zero net energy buildings are mostly associated with commercial buildings but are not limited to it because as its popularity grows, it extends to residential homes. Yes, the concept applies to virtually any structure of any size – whether it’s a huge building or a tiny home.
What does it mean for the housing market?
With the need to lower down the energy bills and more efficient use of energy, renewable energy sources have cast a sharper focus on both commercial and residential buildings. There have been various challenges for developing zero net energy, such as ensuring the structure is zero net energy designed and performs to zero net energy standards. However, it doesn’t stop the development, and today, zero net energy has a positive impact on the housing market. More and more homeowners and homebuyers are opting to buy a home with zero net energy design.
Zero net energy homes for a better tomorrow
The cost of zero net energy may require an increase of monthly mortgage payment up to $40 but with an $80 return on heating, cooling, and lighting for 30 years. Homeowners will pay extra, but with the promise of carbon reduction and energy conservation, zero net energy is the key to a better tomorrow for the housing market. If it is the path for a more sustainable and livable space, zero net energy is the future for the housing market. With zero net energy, everyone can live well with less expense and not fearing expensive energy bills while significantly reducing carbon emission, which can be very beneficial for the environment.