Next Big Thing: An invisible house
Sustainability is a big topic in residential and commercial construction. But is it possible to have a home that leaves no trace on the surrounding environment?
A number of home builders have been gearing up for the task with the construction of zero net energy (ZNE) homes.
The latest is PulteGroup, Inc., which just finished its first ZNE prototype in Northern California.
The home will be monitored for the next 12 months to evaluate its performance and ability to generate as much energy as it uses (one caveat: ZNE homes are often connected to the grid so they can export electricity when there's a surplus and draw when there's not enough).
"PulteGroup's Zero Net Energy prototype is at the forefront of innovation. It has the potential to dramatically reduce overall energy use to benefit homeowners and the broader environment," said Ryan Marshall, president of PulteGroup. "Our goal for this prototype is to help define the most efficient path to building more energy efficient homes that effectively balance constructability, cost and quality."
The advanced design and on-site renewable energy solutions include airtight building methods, highly efficient insulation, HVAC, lighting technologies and more, with on-site solar energy production to offset the home's greatly reduced energy consumption.
Pulte is also an active participant in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) Zero Net Energy Production Builder Demonstration program -- and is the largest builder to be involved, it says. PG&E's program supports California's energy efficiency and climate goals that all new residential construction be zero net energy by 2020.
"Participating in this program allows PulteGroup to test the technologies that can reduce overall energy use, while also determining the construction practices needed to deliver these homes with superior quality, at high volumes and in a cost efficient manner," said Marshall, noting that PulteGroup closed more than 17,000 homes in 2015. "Making our homes more energy efficient helps to shrink their carbon footprint and makes them less expensive to own and operate."
Some of Pulte's partners in the project include Lennox (HVAC equipment); Owens Corning (insulation products); Rinnai (tankless water heater); SolarCity (photovoltaic system) and Whirlpool (Energy Star appliances).
"Overall energy performance and consumption will be evaluated to assess construction technology and help guide best practices for the Company in building more energy efficient homes," Steve Kalmbach, president of the Company's Northern California Division, said. "Not only will the prototype seek improvements through energy use tracking and analysis, but Pulte is also seeking consumer feedback to develop design improvements to meet future homebuyer needs."
A number of home builders have been gearing up for the task with the construction of zero net energy (ZNE) homes.
The latest is PulteGroup, Inc., which just finished its first ZNE prototype in Northern California.
The home will be monitored for the next 12 months to evaluate its performance and ability to generate as much energy as it uses (one caveat: ZNE homes are often connected to the grid so they can export electricity when there's a surplus and draw when there's not enough).
"PulteGroup's Zero Net Energy prototype is at the forefront of innovation. It has the potential to dramatically reduce overall energy use to benefit homeowners and the broader environment," said Ryan Marshall, president of PulteGroup. "Our goal for this prototype is to help define the most efficient path to building more energy efficient homes that effectively balance constructability, cost and quality."
The advanced design and on-site renewable energy solutions include airtight building methods, highly efficient insulation, HVAC, lighting technologies and more, with on-site solar energy production to offset the home's greatly reduced energy consumption.
Pulte is also an active participant in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) Zero Net Energy Production Builder Demonstration program -- and is the largest builder to be involved, it says. PG&E's program supports California's energy efficiency and climate goals that all new residential construction be zero net energy by 2020.
"Participating in this program allows PulteGroup to test the technologies that can reduce overall energy use, while also determining the construction practices needed to deliver these homes with superior quality, at high volumes and in a cost efficient manner," said Marshall, noting that PulteGroup closed more than 17,000 homes in 2015. "Making our homes more energy efficient helps to shrink their carbon footprint and makes them less expensive to own and operate."
Some of Pulte's partners in the project include Lennox (HVAC equipment); Owens Corning (insulation products); Rinnai (tankless water heater); SolarCity (photovoltaic system) and Whirlpool (Energy Star appliances).
"Overall energy performance and consumption will be evaluated to assess construction technology and help guide best practices for the Company in building more energy efficient homes," Steve Kalmbach, president of the Company's Northern California Division, said. "Not only will the prototype seek improvements through energy use tracking and analysis, but Pulte is also seeking consumer feedback to develop design improvements to meet future homebuyer needs."