Green Scene Vision “Zero”
A builder and a manufacturer join forces to show that a net-zero energy house can be affordable.
Cobblestone Homes and Dow Chemical Company just answered the question: How do you build an energy-efficient home without sacrificing affordability? The 3,400-square-foot Bay City, Mich., house—dubbed the “Vision Zero” home— uses readily available energy-efficiency technologies to push the utility bill to zero.
Net-zero energy homes typically use
about 60% to 70% less energy than a conventional home, with the balance of its energy needs supplied by renewable technologies. In this house, the team used Dow’s insulation and air-sealing products combined with the company’s Powerhouse Solar Shingles. The solar components on the house will produce enough energy to supply all of the home’s electricity, plus additional energy that can be sold back to the local utility company. Cobblestone used a wide range of other products and systems to help it achieve the net zero energy goal, such as a geothermal heat pump, solar hot water, LEDs, and ultra-high-efficiency appliances. “For years, we’ve been a leading
advocate for energy-efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly homes in Michigan,” says Mark Wahl, co-owner of Cobblestone. “Our collaboration with Dow to build the Vision Zero home provides us with a unique opportunity to educate consumers and the industry about the attainability of net-zero energy homes. It will serve as a real-world example that net-zero energy is achievable, affordable, and replicable, even in harsh Northern
The Vision Zero home achieves net-zero energy by
using a Dow insulation package, a geothermal heat pump, a solar hot water heater, LEDs, and high efficiency appliances.
www.greenbuildermag.com September 2010 GreenBuilder 15
Where housing and the environment connect
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