Preston Rakovsky As the need for fossil fuels increases, there is a directly proportional requisite to explore viable alternatives to non-renewable resources of oil and natural gas. One of the most accessible solutions to this growing demand for sustainable energy is in the area of home construction. The concept of “Zero Energy Homes” is growing in popularity; Zero Energy Homes can now be purchased in at least 25% of states in America. Zero Energy Home owners will have no energy bills of any kind, other than an annual hookup fee. This is stark contrast to the average home owner who spends an excess of $2,200 on energy costs according to the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy report. Even though it might cost 5% – 10% more to build a home with zero energy specifications, the monthly energy savings outweigh the additional costs. In addition there are tax credits and federal rebates offered to home owners who pursue …show more content…
For example, all the framing materials and anything else made from wood is taken from the sustainable forestry initiative, SFI, and the unused materials are 100% recyclable. Using features such as: walls of 9.5 inch thickness and triple paneled windows, increase the homes efficiency with the possibility for mold growth decreased, the need for repair and/or replacement of materials is drastically reduced.
The average home releases about 10 metric tons of CO2 gas per year from its electricity and fossil fuel use. According to Architecture 2030, 48% of the CO2 production can be traced to buildings. Considering this huge impact on our environment, innovators are focusing on zero energy homes which have zero net carbon emissions. The fact that homes of such efficiency and quality are also affordable makes the prospect for their continued popularity more likely. They are efficient, attractive, affordable, and