Giv Group just finished a zero energy affordable housing apartment project in Salt Lake City that cost less than a comparable building built to conventional energy standards. Now, they want to share what they learned so others can duplicate their accomplishment.

People often make choices with negative impacts to their health, wealth, and overall well being without realizing it. These are called risk behaviors, and there is a large body of research about techniques to help people make healthier, more positive decisions. Here are ways these techniques can be used to influence people to buy zero energy homes.

The first certified Passive House in Scranton, Pennsylvania, offers more than super energy efficiency. It demonstrates that high-performance homes can be built for the same price as code-built homes.

A report by the Shelton Group shows a gap between how Americans value the environment and their lack of willingness to take action to protect the environment. The good news is that Americans do prefer to purchase environmentally conscious products. Zero energy builders, designers, and realtors can use the insights from this report to more effectively market zero energy homes.

Making zero energy homes affordable requires a systematic approach that includes solid building science and thoughtful client relations. Learn more about how Imery Group has built a successful business in Georgia.

Third-party certifier, Earth Advantage, has evolved their zero energy home standards to make it easier for builders to include natural gas in their zero energy homes. Here’s what they did.

A Colorado project shows how a PACE loan changed the calculus of energy efficiency investments for one leaseed commercial complex. Energy savings for this project exceed the payments, so property owners and tenants are cash flow positive immediately.

Property sellers and buyers tend to agree that energy efficient buildings are worth more. Getting that value in the market has been another story. Green appraisal consultant, James Finlay, offers a primer for property owners of high-performance real estate to prepare for them for accurate appraisals.

Like many cities, Toronto and its surrounding area have a “missing middle” in available housing. A local group designed and built a prototype that would fill the gap with affordable, net zero energy units.

Times are changing. While early zero energy homes may have required a significant up-front cost premium, designers and builders now have many ways to make zero energy affordable. Here’s our laundry list of design, construction and financing ideas for affordable zero energy homes.

Home improvement loans to fund energy-efficiency improvements are now available around the U.S. A new report shows that they are benefiting borrowers and offering secure investments for communities.

This develop/design/build firm is now dedicated to 100% zero energy residential projects. Since lenders continue to neglect the growing zero energy segment, this ambitious company has created its own impact investment fund to finance their zero energy homes.