Net Zero Homes
A net-zero home can be the best option if you're looking for a more sustainable, efficient place to call home. With numerous jurisdictions considering introducing net-zero construction criteria into residential building codes, it appears that this is the way of the future.
What is a net-zero home?
A net-zero home generates as much energy as it uses, so the net amount of energy it purchases from the local hydro company is zero. This is a novel concept that is gaining traction as more individuals want more affordable homes that are both sturdy and pleasant, while also saving money for them as homeowners.
What makes a home net zero?
Reducing energy consumption is essential to sustaining a net-zero house because it allows you to produce enough electricity to fulfill your needs. It's challenging but attainable:
- Since net-zero homes are intended to be up to 80% more energy-efficient than traditional homes, they use less energy.
- Passive heating is the process of orienting them to benefit from the sun's warmth and light.
- In order to keep heat in during the winter and keep it out during the summer, they are also designed to be incredibly airtight and insulated with extra layers.
- Energy-efficient appliances, HVAC systems, and other electrical equipment reduce energy consumption.
- Additionally, homeowners carefully control how much energy they use, paying attention to how energy is used throughout the house.
- In addition, on-site energy generating that may provide as much power as the household consumes annually is a feature of net-zero homes.
Are net-zero homes "off-the-grid"?
Even with net-zero energy, a house can still be connected to the electrical grid, allowing it to adapt to daily and seasonal fluctuations in household energy consumption. For instance, having a connection to the grid enables households to use the electricity provided by their neighborhood hydro company during crises, low solar production periods, and times when energy system maintenance or repair is required.
How can Ready Solar help?
A major criterion of Net Zero homes is producing their own electricity, keeping it sustainable and efficient with regards to their energy usage and reducing their carbon footprint. A lot of people prefer solar photovoltaic panels, which can provide electricity for appliances, hot water, heating and cooling systems, and lighting. It being the most popular/ efficient choice in BC with its latest innovation and technical advancements, the efficiency of the solar panels and the inverters have got better and better and hence are more than capable of powering almost all your needs, and even producing excess energy to be sold to the hydro grid in return for BC hydro credits with the help of net-metering or it can be stored in your home battery backup system for later use.
That’s where we collaborate and come in to share our expertise and skills. By harnessing the power of sunlight through our state-of-the-art solar panels, we enable homeowners to generate clean, renewable energy right at their doorstep. Additionally, our cutting-edge battery backup systems ensure uninterrupted power supply, even during periods of low sunlight or grid outages, enhancing the reliability and resilience of net zero homes.
Through our tailored services and commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to supporting homeowners in their journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Can an existing home be retrofitted to net zero?
Net-zero builds aren't the only application for this idea. It can be done, even though it requires considerable forethought and adjustments to standard renovation techniques. Renovations should be done according to the same guidelines as net-zero new homes. These include raising the insulation levels above code requirements, aligning windows with the sun, redesigning HVAC systems for maximum efficiency, and adding energy-generating equipment that is appropriate for the building's location and use.
Take control of your energy today—call (604) 262-6919.