At the core of a cost-effective zero energy home is a well-insulated, airtight building shell. Beyond that a variety of advanced energy-efficient equipment will help you get to zero more cost effectively. Technological advances also offer the promise of zero energy homes that are healthier and more comfortable. Yet for designers, builders, and homeowners to use these technologies with confidence, it’s important that they be tried and true. It’s also important that designers and home builders be aware of them.
Criteria Used
To that end the Zero Energy Project Product Directory was created to make these products more visible to designers, builders, and homebuyers. Products are selected based on the following criteria:
- The product helps a home become zero energy by reducing energy use and global warming potential (GWP), protecting health, or generating on-site renewable energy.
- The product has a well known track record or is endorsed by a reliable third party, is commonly used in zero energy homes, and is readily available. Other products may be included if they promise technical innovation or lower cost, even though they are as yet unproven in the field. These latter products are identified with designation INNOVATIVE.
- Products can be included at no cost.
The listings, selected by Zero Energy Project, are informational only. They are not meant as endorsements, but rather a place to begin due diligence in your selection of products.
New Zero Product Additions
We have recently added several products to the directory. Here are highlights of some that caught our attention.
Sanco2 CO2 Heat Pump Water Heater
The Sanco2 is unique among heat pump water heaters because it’s a split system with an outdoor unit to capture heat and an indoor storage tank. This and other features give it the highest efficiency of any heat pump water heater on today’s market.
See Heat Pump Water Heaters in the ZEP Product Directory
Artic Cold Climate Heat Pump
The Arctic Heat Pump is a cold climate system that can meet an entire home’s heating and cooling needs including domestic hot water, pools and spas. This heat pump integrates with multiple heating and cooling systems methods, such as radiant floor heating/cooling, central air handlers for forced air, split fan coils for individual room heating, and low temperature radiators. Heating pools, spas, and hot tubs can be accomplished using an external titanium heat exchanger.
See HVAC Systems in the ZEP Product Directory
Venmar Air Exchangers
Ventilation is a necessity. But what is the most cost effective way to ventilate while retaining the energy used for heating and cooling? Venmar offers a wide range of air exchangers with Heat Recovery (HRV) and Energy Recovery (ERV) technologies. These technologies help to minimize the need for heating and cooling.
See Ventilation Systems in the ZEP Product Directory
Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3)
EC3 is a free database of construction Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) with a matching building impact calculator for use in building design and material procurement. The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool is free and easy to use. It allows benchmarking, assessment, and reductions in embodied carbon, focused on the upfront supply chain emissions of construction materials.
See Carbon Calculator Software in the ZEP Product Directory
T-Stud™
The R19 Tstud™ is an engineered building product that uses two lumber members and an internal truss system to break the thermal bridging common with solid wood wall studs and plates. Two versions are available. The pre-insulated version comes with low-GWP foam insulation in the truss section. The BareNaked Tstud™version leaves out the foam, so that dense pack insulation can be installed onsite. T-studs are currently available in 2×6 and 2×8 thicknesses.
See Insulated Wall Assemblies in the ZEP Product Directory
Hemp Insulation INNOVATIVE
Hempitecture HempWool is made from 92% industrial hemp fiber. Because it’s mostly plant based, it’s non-abrasive and non-toxic. It comes in 16- and 24-inch batts with R-values of 7, 13, 20, and 28. Working with hemp wool requires the eye protection and dust masks typical of any insulation job. It’s best to cut the material with a table saw and an angle grinder.
See Insulation in the ZEP Product Directory
View the Zero Product Directory and Share Your Favorite Zero Product
You can view the full Zero Product Directory here. After you look through it, please share your recommendations for additional products to consider for our directory — products that are a step forward on the path to zero because they lower costs, improve performance, or reduce GWP. Just send an email with your suggestions to info@elemental.green.
