Thursday, October 7, 2010

A New Housing Development with "Net Zero" Energy Use

I saw this on ecohomemagazine.com.Maybe the green home idea can now really take off. Three things caught my attention:

1) "...this structural system, in combination with geothermal heating and cooling, energy-efficient appliances, windows, and lighting, should reduce the homes’ energy consumption by 80% versus traditional models." 
80%!!  That's the 2050 goal for reducing emissions, and it can be done today for new homes!

2) "The houses remain grid connected for times of low solar or wind generation, but the company expects an annualized usage of net zero."

3) The builder "says they will be competitive with homes in nearby subdivisions after taking into account federal tax credits for solar and geothermal."
Awesome!

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/news/2010/09-september/illinois-developer-breaks-ground-on-132-home-net-zero-community.aspx