Category: Insulation

Design / Insulation / Lessons Learned / Performance Metrics / Sustainable Building / ZNE Homes Examples

January 9, 2024

What’s the Secret Recipe to get to Zero Net-Energy

A SECRET RECIPE TO GET TO NET-ZERO??? One of the reasons why many homebuilders shy away from building a zero net-energy home is that it sounds so complicated. The various experts don’t help with their barrage of technical advice on building design, insulation strategies, computer modeling, inspections, auditing, testing, etc. Furthermore, a discussion of incremental costs is frequently lacking. — Instead, homeowners just want someone to tell them in simple terms how to get to net-zero, and what it will cost. What’s the secret recipe? The best recipe that I’ve currently found is provided in the book The New Net Zero, by William Maclay and Maclay Architects. Their recipe is based on experience, so I expect it works quite well in the Northern New England...

NetZero-HayfieldHouse.com is created to help demystify the design, material selection, construction, and costs of building a zero net-energy, all-electric, single-family house that also preserves the conservation values of the land. Hopefully this blog will encourage others to join in a similar quest. Architects, builders, material suppliers, homeowners and others may benefit from the lessons learned (and suggestions offered) from the perspective of a homeowner who actively participated in and/or led every phase of this net-zero project.