Glossary of Zero Energy Terms

Make Hot Water the Modern Energy Efficient Way

…and economically as possible. The best water heating choice for getting your home on the path to becoming an energy efficient home is to install a heat pump water heater…

My Zero Energy Pool is a Great Investment!

…the “pool fab four”: a new variable-speed pool-water circulating pump, an electric-powered pool vacuum/cleaner, a heat pump pool heater and about five solar panels to power it all. Going zero…

Select an Energy Efficient, Zero Energy Home Heating and Cooling System

Reducing the energy required for heating and cooling is essential to meeting the net zero goal. An air-source heat pump is the most energy efficient heating and cooling system currently…

My Zero Energy Retrofit Beats my 401(k)

…pay for the heat pumps in about 9 years. That’s a return on investment of about 9% per year after tax. These heat pumps both heat and cool the house…

The Mystery of Misapplied Mini-Splits

Inverter-driven mini-split heat pumps hold tremendous promise for slashing energy use for space heating and cooling in virtually every American climate zone. Equipment from some major manufacturers operates reliably to…

HVAC Design Strategies for High-Performance Homes

…homes in northern latitudes have had only heating systems, but this is changing. In these heating-dominant climates, HVAC system designs would naturally first need to meet the heating needs of…

Innovations in a 107-Year-Old Net Positive Victorian Retrofit

…the geothermal heat exchanger pre-heats water in a pre-heat tank for the domestic water heater. 3) Our water heater is driven by a heat pump which sucks heat from basement…

The Future is Electric

…heat pump will maintain a comfortable indoor temperature in both heating and cooling seasons. The same heat pump technology provides abundant hot water. An induction cooktop cooks faster, is easier…

Hot water from the Sun for the 21st-Century

…with a standard 50-gallon electric water heater. That’s much cheaper than a thermal system, but it gets even better.   Heat Pump Water Heaters The real game changer has been…

Creating Your Home Electrification Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide

…federal tax credits for almost every home electrification project: heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC, electric vehicles and chargers, energy audits, weatherization/insulation, and rooftop solar. Wachunas pointed out that…

Zero Energy Proves Profitable in Vacation Rental

…design can reduce the need for expensive mechanical systems. Our heating system consists of just two low-cost Panasonic Exterios XE mini-split heat pumps and one electric-resistance cove heater. The heat…