net zero energy
March 29, 2023

Home EV Charging Made Simple (But Do Hire an Electrician)
Home EV charging setups can be tricky. So we’ve developed a primer: from model options and safe installation, to pricing and solar storage.
Read ArticleJanuary 19, 2023

Electrifying? You May Not Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
Abandoning gas for all-electric appliances? The electrical panel is the unsung hero of any home electrification project.
Read ArticleJanuary 7, 2023

Heat Pump Dryers: Low-Impact Laundry
Heat pump dryers are an exciting, relatively new electrification technology. One can cut perhaps 10% of your household energy use.
Read ArticleJanuary 2, 2023

Cold Climate Heat Pumps Warm Homes on the Coldest Days
We know that decarbonization requires electrifiction, and we know that heat pumps work in many situations. But many people still wonder: Will heat pumps work in cold temperatures?
Read ArticleJanuary 14, 2022

My Net Zero Home Got Me Through a Wisconsin Winter — Here’s What I Learned
When Amber Westerman Set Out to Build a Net-Zero House, She Knew the Design Had to be Small and Smart.
Read ArticleNovember 12, 2021

Shedding Light on the “Dark Side” of Solar Power
The dark side of solar power includes trashing millions of used solar panels and batteries in landfills, intermittent production, and taking large tracts of land out of productive use. But new recycling approaches, and energy management and land use strategies are keeping the light on solar. It has a bright future.
Read ArticleAugust 6, 2021

Financing Energy-Efficient Housing on a Massive Scale
There is one major obstacle to the widespread transition to zero energy homes: The mortgage industry has been slow to recognize their higher market value and reluctant to finance the additional upfront cost of financially sound energy efficiency features. One solution is a system to create mortgage backed securities specifically for energy efficient homes.
Read ArticleAugust 5, 2021

Zero Homes Are Great: Let’s Make Them Better — Zero 2.0
Ten years ago, making a home or building generate as much energy as it uses over the course of a year seemed an immense challenge. Tens of thousands of these advanced energy-efficient structures have been built. But they need to be better to meet the challenges of climate change, health, security, and resilience. So what’s next? Zero 2.0!
Read ArticleJuly 19, 2021

Simple Steps to Maintain Zero Energy Home Appliances
Zero energy homes have many advanced features and systems. After you have your very own zero energy home, you’ll want to keep it operating at peak efficiency. Fortunately, home maintenance for these homes is not more difficult or time consuming than for conventional homes.
Read ArticleJune 14, 2021

Low Carbon Kitchens
Whether you’re building a new home or replacing worn out appliances, you’ll want to choose products that reduce energy use and your carbon footprint. Some choices are just improved versions of familiar products, and other options may be completely new. Make your next kitchen a 21st century kitchen — ready for our zero carbon future.
Read ArticleJune 14, 2021

Products Used to Get to Zero
You can’t build or remodel a home on the path to zero without buying suitable materials and equipment. That’s why the Zero Energy Project offers a select list of product ideas that can smooth your path to zero. Check out the new products that have been recently added to the Zero Energy Product Directory!
Read ArticleJune 9, 2021

The Mythical Threat to Double-Stud Walls
When choosing a high-performance wall assembly, you have many choices. One of them is to build double-stud walls. The double-stud wall approach sometimes raises the concern that it will lead to mold growth and wood rot. Is this fear based in reality? Green Building Advisor checked it out and found that wood-moisture content and seasonal temperature fluctuations do not seem to create moisture problems in double-stud walls.
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