2014 Zero Energy Challenge 1st Place Home

This award-winning home is an example of what you can achieve when both the home owner and builder have a passion for energy-efficient design and the environment. See how this net zero energy home won the Lowest Overall HERS Index and Lowest Annual Operating Cost categories and tied for the Lowest HERS Index without Renewables category. Learn more about the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge at www.ctzeroenerg....

[@ANonyMouse627]

Every home should be built like this

[@mirola73]

You really question why a lot of governments don't push this, no matter what country or climate.

[@carlb6652]

Thanks. We like it. Very comfortable year round. E made me promise that if I built it the way I was hoping, she wouldn't be cold. We keep inside 73 degrees all winter.

[@DeterminedDIYer]

They don't push it because the energy companies don't want them too. Look what they did to Tesla and his Wardenclyffe Tower.

[@scottc8152]

Nice home. It would be interesting to know how much more it cost to put all that into the home compared to a typical HERS 100 rated home in the same area. Extra cost built into a new home for certain efficiency/energy improvements can be financed using an "EEM", which is an Energy Efficient Mortgage. It allows more money to be put into a mortgage to finance things that would lower net ownership costs, like a solar system that eliminates electric and heat bills. Look into it if you are considering building a new home.

[@carlb6652]

Scott, it did cost a little more for the geothermal system compared to an oil furnace (most houses in New England use oil for heat/hot water) and central air, but not dramatically more. Given that there is no maintenance except air filter changes (no annual tune-up like with an oil furnace) and the equipment should last longer than a central air conditioner compressor subjected to all of the weather and critters outside, payback will not take long. Also, besides energy efficiency, we spent a little more so the house was designed for durability. Vapor permeable, water repellent insulation (R11 of Roxul ComfortBoard) keeps the sheathing warm - and thus condensation free. Most people don't know that condensation inside the walls of highly-insulated houses is a real mold/rot problem.

[@gedhomer3697]

Roof overhangs don't look right at all.. top floor too little and bottom floor top much.

[@carlb6652]

Which overhangs are you referring to - gable ends or eaves?

[@charliedaniels1]

That's a home you don't want to move from; expensive and hard to sell for profit. So maybe ill think about it in my 60's

[@carlb6652]

We weren't looking to flip it, so we were taking a longer-range view. It's where we are going to raise our kids and get to live for 50 years. If we waited until our 60s, we wouldn't be able to do those things which were important to us.

[@dlg5485]

Too bad it's a plain, boring looking house. If I was going to spend the extra money to build such a perfectly efficient house, I'd want it to look special too.

[@carlb6652]

Looks are a matter of taste, and we wanted this one. As for 'looking special', it's not quite what you meant but no-one misses the giant solar panel when they drive by. 😀 Also, the color of the house shown in the video isn't right. That was the bare Hardiplank before it was painted. The house is yellow with white trim.