Dow helps build net-zero energy home

Dow Chemical Co. and Cobblestone Homes have opened their new net-zero energy home for the first time during the Midland, Mich., Spring Parade of Homes.

Built for under $250,000, the home, dubbed “InVision Zero,” makes sustainable living an affordable reality for more homeowners, as it is priced at the current U.S. average new-home selling price. Using a portfolio of energy-efficient home-building materials and technologies from Dow that are designed to work together to seal the entire building envelope, the home is expected to save $2,441 in energy costs and avert 30,233 lbs. of CO2 annually, according to Dow.

“Dow Building Solutions has been providing advanced building science expertise to the industry for decades,” said Dale Winger, marketing manager, Dow Building Solutions. “By collaborating with industry leaders like Cobblestone Homes, we are able to showcase that employing the latest available insulation and air sealing technologies can reduce a home’s energy requirements so dramatically that net-zero energy homes reach an attainable price point for mainstream new home buyers.” 

Cobblestone Homes is a Great Lakes Bay region home builder focused on energy efficiency. 

Net-zero energy homes typically use about 60% to 70% less energy than a conventional home, with the balance of its energy needs supplied by renewable technologies. The InVision Zero home uses a wide range of Dow materials and sustainable technologies, including Dow Building Solutions’ Styrofoam SIS Structural Insulated Sheathing and DOW Solar Shingles.