Organic farming is his first love, but he also has a talent for energy-efficient home design and construction. When clients hire Bud Barta and his sons to build a top-quality home, they get advanced energy efficiency, too.

Builders say they will build what people want. Real estate professionals say they help people find the house that’s right for them. Overwhelmingly, home buyers say they want high-efficiency, healthy homes. So why is the market share of these homes so low? The obvious disconnect between the demand and the supply can only be corrected if consumers use their influence to move the market. Here’s how...

Efficiency Vermont, an energy efficiency utility working to reduce energy usage and costs for Vermont homeowners and businesses conducted a Zero Energy Feasibility Study to determine whether net zero energy homes, multi-family homes, office buildings and a combined office/light manufacturing building made economic sense.

A tool for properly appraising Zero Net Homes We often talk about how Zero Energy Homes and Zero Ready Homes have a higher value for the owners and occupants. Thanks to advanced technologies, they are more durable, more energy efficient, more comfortable and healthier than standard homes, all while being less expensive to own. Sometimes […]