Zero Energy Capable

To achieve a Zero Energy Capable Designation we have some simple guidelines that will help make your project a success and set your clients up to achieve their goals of zero energy living.

1. Submit a model for a home or building using an approved energy modeling tool. The model must show a zero or negative energy usage over a typical year including all energy consumption and all energy production from renewable energy sources local to the site. The energy consumption and production modeling must be completed by qualified professionals. Consumption from the following items can be excluded: Vehicles, special farm or manufacturing energy consumption (submit an explanation of proposed exclusions with the modeling).
2. Build or renovate to the modeled standards and use 3rd party energy testing & inspections to ensure performance. These are specified by the chosen model in step 1. (Minimum tests required include 1. Air leakage of the building envelope;  2. Duct leakage to the outdoors;  3. Total duct leakage; 4. Worst Case Combustion Spillage)
3. Project must be GreenStar Homes Certified to the Bronze level or an equivalent baseline level of a relevant green building program*

The project will receive the zero energy capable designation logo on the certificate and be listed and featured on our website.

1. REM/Rate
2. WUFI Passive
3. DOE: Home Energy Score (HES)
4. Cake: Energy Performance Score (EPS)
5. ASHRAE 90.1

Not during the pilot BUT you can support our work by making a donation or becoming a member. 

No. This is designed + built + tested and modeled to be zero energy and utility bills are not required. Homeowners or tenants can apply for our zero energy hero awards on a yearly basis if the utility bills are zero or negative.

https://greenhomeinstitute.org/zero-energy-hero-award/

• Single family
• Neighboorhoods
• Multifamily housing
• High & Midrise buildings
• Mixed use
• Any commercial building that can be modeled under ASHREA
• New construction
• Renovation
• Weatherization

Yes. For wood or biofuel we will need to work with model on how to incorporate estimated energy usage. All of this must be offset by renewables.

The goal is to ensure the project meets some basic green measures so that that it is healthy, durable, water efficient and utilizes sustainable materials.

Other certifications do meet these goals and include but are not limited to;

• LEED
• National Green Building Standard (NGBS)
• Enterprise Green Communities
• DOE: Zero Energy Ready Home
• Passive House
• Earth Craft

Learn more about each program on our on Demand CE Webinar Making Sense of Green Home Certifications 101 

We have many on-demand courses and live tours that cover zero energy

Go here to access them and watch at no charge

Partner Trainings 

Heatspring – Leaders in High-Performance Building: Zero Fossil Fuels & Zero Net Energy

EEBA has a great all day hands-on program that may be coming to a town near you.  Learn more

The New Net Zero Book. 

Yes.

Your model will need to account for things like

• Driveway warmers
• Ice dam metlers
• Hot tubs
• Pumps
• Elevators
• Etc.

Yes.

We are partnering with the Green Builder Coalition to the Water Efficiency Rating Score to help projects achieve low or zero water usage based on modeling and testing. Similiar to Energy modeling.

Learn more and sign up.