View original Denver Post article, “Houses move off grid, into mainstream,” here.
By Eric Doub, Ecofutures Founder & CEO
Facts should matter, but even the headline was wrong: With all but a few exceptions, these zero net energy homes are ON the grid. The utility grid provides the storage.
This savings on electricity storage is partly how we have created net zero energy homes and proven their performance for 7% more than a comparable custom home would have cost. For clients we are about to build a home costing 5% — yes, five percent — more for the net zero energy equipment and features that future-proof the property, with energy bills now and forever next to nothing. It will also be the most comfortable home they have ever lived in, with a hot tub and all the amenities.
No matter what decade of this century, and no matter what fossil fuels cost, these homes will be humming along. Comfort, health, durability, value. These benefits are what people want in their homes anyway. Why build or remodel to provide 8 mpg homes? Affordability is P.I.T.I. plus Energy & Water. Ask what is cost-neutral: How much more will I pay per month for my high-performing home’s mortgage, and how much less will I pay in energy?
The equation is often cash flow positive from day one. Take this example:
The 2005 Habitat/NREL house in Denver has at least 4,500 kWh EXTRA on its meter by now. The single mother of two living in that house has powered her house almost for free for 3.5 years, and if she had had an electric vehicle, she could have driven that car about 15,000 miles for free. THAT is affordable housing. How much more did that home cost than a comparable Habitat house? 8% — eight percent. Facts should matter.
Retrofitting buildings for carbon neutrality? We have done it.
Creating homes that produce more energy than they use, so your electric vehicle is also powered by the sun? We have done it.
I like to think back to 2004 and imagine I said,
“Look, we know it’s never been done. But we are going to design and build a home in a cold climate, all-electric with no wood burning, that produces more energy than it uses for the year. Energy bills will be next to nothing. It will use commonly available materials and standard building practices. It will cost about 7% more than a conventionally built custom home and have a hot tub and steam shower and flat screen TV and be 4,500 sf.”
But that is what we accomplished. Performance has been publicly proven. Learn about it here. Much of the information not in the Post article today can be found there. For those interested in facts, this website can very likely answer the questions and correct the falsehoods in these postings.
