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Net Zero homes are built in such a way as to produce as much energy as they consume. They are up to 80 per cent more energy efficient than traditional homes which means that utility bills are extremely low.
According to Steven Wright, building a Net Zero home allows homeowners as much choice as they would have if they were building a traditional home, but with a lot more comfort and cost savings. Steven has been building energy efficient homes since 1990.
I sat down with Steven to find out more about the process of customizing and building a Net Zero home.
Is the purchasing a Net Zero home similar to purchasing a traditional home?
“The process of purchasing a Net Zero home is exactly the same as purchasing a traditional home from us. The only added step is if the customer plans on going fully Net Zero with solar panels, we would have them meet with our consultants to design the solar panel placement and quantity for their family’s needs.”
How custom can Net Zero homes be? What types of choices in design, colour, materials, etc. are there?
“The customers have the same choices as our traditional builds. Once the home is purchased the customer will have two meetings with our team. The exterior meeting will take place first where they will select stone, brick, siding, shingles, soffit and fascia colour and type. During the interior meeting customers will decide on tile, wood, cabinetry, countertops, etc. Our team design experts guide our clients through the process making the selections as smooth as possible.”
Does the home owner have the same variety to choose from when it comes to appliances, flooring, paint, etc.?
The same variety of interior and exterior selections are available for Net Zero homes. Since Net Zero Homes have fewer air leaks as well as engineered HVAC systems, it is easier to control humidity for the products installed. Most all products are available as far as flooring, paints trims and doors. Appliances need to meet Energy Star efficiency requirements but that most new appliances do meet the requirements of the Net Zero program. Clients are encouraged to purchase the most energy efficient appliance models that they can afford. The end result is the more energy you save the less energy required to offset that usage with your solar panel system.
What is a Net Zero ready home?
A Net Zero ready home is designed to the same specs of a full Net Zero home without the addition of photovoltaic panels (solar panels) that capture the energy of the sunlight to produce the energy that is used within the home. These homes offer all the incredibly energy efficient features in preparation for clients to jump in to the renewable energy market with the purchase of solar package which means the home will truly meet the full Net Zero label.
Why would someone choose Net Zero ready over Net Zero?
If someone is planning on adding solar panels later on or just wants to have an exceptionally well-built home that is comfortable, quiet and energy efficient, they might choose a Net Zero ready home design. When our subdivisions are planned, we take into account the roof orientation so that customers can add solar panels that not only harvest as much sun as possible during the day, but also have curb appeal hiding them as much as possible from the front elevation.
Whether they are building Net Zero homes or Net Zero ready homes, the incredibly helpful team at Wrighthaven Homes is happy to help walk their clients through the entire process to make it as smooth as possible.
If you would like to see one of their Net Zero homes for yourself, check out their showhome at 33 Waterloo St, Elora.
For more information about building a Net Zero or Net Zero ready home, contact the helpful team at Wrighthaven Homes at (519) 787-6699. Find out more about their current communities on their website or on Facebook.