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Net Zero building
When it comes to building, I believe in building for the future. That means building a home that’s strong, yes, but also one that’s energy-efficient and sustainable. To me, the gold standard of that is a Net Zero home.
A Net Zero home is one that produces as much or more energy than it consumes. Making a home Net Zero isn’t a simple task, but when done properly the effort can seriously pay off, both for the homeowner and the environment.
Net Zero homes will need to include some form of renewable energy. Most of us will choose solar to tackle those needs, but it’s not as easy as tossing some solar panels on your roof and calling it a day.
Your home needs to be running at peak efficiency so that it’s not wasting excessive energy. Your building envelope will need to be properly sealed so it’s not leaking heat – meaning you’ll need enough insulation, plus good doors and windows and a strong roof.
Most of our energy consumption comes from heating and cooling our homes, so the method you use to heat your home could make or break your Net Zero dreams. Geothermal heating, which pulls the temperature from the ground to heat our homes, is the most efficient, but that’s not an easy thing to retrofit into an existing home.
