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Go Green Spots
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Net Zero Energy Homes
by Lawson Schaller
Last week David Knight from the Monterey Energy Group spoke to a group of architects here in SLO. David is an engineer, proponent, and leader in Net Zero Energy (NZE) homes. NZE basically means that the homes will produce as much energy as they consume. David has designed and worked on many NZE homes.
David spoke about utilizing solar electricity and heat pumps as important components toward the goal of NZE. Naturally, energy conservation plays a big role. Homes that have a tight 'envelope'—homes with good to great insulation and high quality insulating windows and doorss—is also key. Very efficient appliances, light fixtures, and other items in the home are also important.
Heat pumps are relatively efficient in transferring (pumping) energy (heat) from the air or the ground to the home. A prior column in SLO Coast Journal touched on heat pumps. A geothermal heat pump takes advantage of heat in the soil or ground area near the home. An air heat pump takes advantage of heat in the air. In our moderate California climate air heat pumps might be more appropriate than geothermal heat pumps. More extreme climates, like that in the midwest, will likely be able to take more advantage of a geothermal heat pump.
David spoke about California legislation that will require half of all new homes built in California in 2016 to be NZE . . . 2020 will require all new homes built to be NZE!
The NZE legislation is a real game changer in home construction and home ownership. There are more investments required upfront for a NZE home; but the payback, return on investment and positive impact on our natural resources and climate are huge. David's power point presentation showed several examples of very good ROI on new NZE homes (retrofitting existing homes can be more challenging). Imagine investing in a solar electrical system and locking in your homes energy requirements for decades! Even if one cannot get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the 'green/eco,' rewards then focus on the financial rewards. And, if you happen to be one of many that dislike paying PG&E, celebrate that. The inflation protection and buffer against energy price volatility that solar electricity offers is a huge incentive as well.
As more people invest in solar electricity, the price comes down. Solar electric prices have come down significantly in recent years. Likewise with energy star appliances, CFL and LED light fixtures, and other energy efficient items. Economies of scale come into play, prices go down, and we see more of these products and more competition in the market place. This is good news for both consumers and Mother Nature.
The costs of the solar electric system, the heat pump, the tighter envelope, etc. can or will be rolled into the new construction loans and paid monthly—just like one pays an electric bill or gas bill monthly. David was suggesting that an all electric home might very well be the most effective (and safest) way to a NZE home. Natural gas is quite affordable now—at least financially—the environment may be paying a severe price with the impact of hydraulic fracturing etc. The all electric home avoids safety issues with carbon monoxide poisoning, flammability, explosions, etc.
To many, it may have seemed like space age technology to have a home produce as much energy as it consumes. Perhaps much like cell phones a few decades ago were considered far off, remote, or unlikely—Well the future is here. NZE homes have arrived.
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