There’s a misconception that saving energy is bad for business. To the contrary, there is a strong business case for high-performance buildings, as illustrated by this small sample of recently completed zero energy buildings.

Most buildings that use forced-air heating and cooling run the ducts outside the building’s thermal envelope. That’s crazy! Save energy, save money and improve performance by designing and building with ducts inside. Here’s how.

Uncertainty looms ahead for the zero energy movement. Don’t get discouraged. Get active! We’ve got 7 close-to-home actions you can take now to propel the movement forward.

Better comfort sets zero energy homes apart from conventional ones. Add the concept of radiant temperatures to your sales pitch.

Long-term, low-cost financing means that owners and renters will see immediate financial benefits from energy efficiency improvements. Property-Assessed Clean Energy programs are sprouting up around the U.S. to address the need. Maybe your area has such a program.

This Realtor accepts a professional responsibility to improve the energy efficiency of housing and fight climate change.

The cost of solar electric systems has plunged by 5 to 8% in just the last year, making zero energy homes financially feasible for more middle-income homeowners. This is a great time for you to encourage homebuyers to include solar in the homes you are building for them. This trend will help you make the case for solar to your customers.

Think about an idea that many professional chefs have already discovered. Electric induction cooktops are faster, more responsive and, yes, more efficient. This technology could replace gas as the cooking fuel of choice in the next home you build. Value added energy saving technologies like this will help your homes stand out from the rest.

Sports arenas around the world are joining the zero energy wave. Your next game could be carbon-neutral. If football stadia can become zero energy, shouldn’t the homes we build be zero energy too?

Solar panels don’t need to be an afterthought. They can now be seamlessly integrated into a variety of building components, reducing buyer resistance to solar even further. By integrating solar into walls, as well as roofs, you’ll find that taller buildings can now reach zero energy.

There are four reasons that energy-efficient commercial buildings are worth more. Working with appraisers to accurately document this value will help ensure the financial success and appropriate sales price for high-performance buildings. While this post refers to commercial buildings, the idea applies to homes, too.

Although the trend is just beginning, electric vehicles will eventually replace fossil fuel burners. Why not be ahead of the curve and future proof your next zero energy home by including extra solar generating capacity to supply enough electricity for the household and for transportation. This will satisfy the top two household energy uses.