Tips For Designing Net Zero Homes In The Mountains

What is a net-zero building or zero-energy building? Generally, these are defined as structures that create as much energy as they consume. They are high performance buildings with the ability to generate their own energy without depending on external power sources, whether from propane, wood or power plants. Standard energy production, in contrast, uses non-renewable resources such as natural gas and coal.

There are two straightforward steps to creating a net zero building that doesn’t use or decreases dependence upon outside energy and non-renewable resources:

1. The first and most important step to creating a net-zero building or home is to reduce the amount of energy the building needs. A goal of 60 percent energy reduction or more can create a significant impact. In residential buildings, most of the energy is used for space heating, cooling, water heating and lighting (45 percent, 9 percent, 18 percent and 6 percent of total consumption, respectively). These areas have the greatest and easiest potential for energy reductions.

2. After reducing energy consumption through design techniques, we devise strategies to generate the energy needed for the building. These strategies include alternative energy sources such as building integrated photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, and micro-hydroelectric turbines.

A building can even generate excess energy to sell back to the energy companies. In addition, local, state and federal governmental agencies and power companies offer many incentives for the installation and purchase of renewable energy systems.

Living in a home with reduced outside energy use creates cost-savings, reduced environmental impacts, and allows for independence from fossil fuels. After a short payback period, your house could transform into an “energy factory” and run for free!

Using interactive energy modeling, we test many different applications to reduce energy use. These include:

More Net Zero Tips: Reduce heating and cooling loads

• Minimize square footage (less space to condition and/or light)

• Shade (deciduous) trees – In summer they decrease need for cooling, and in winter they let in heat and light from the sun.

• Proper building orientation – passive heating and cooling from the sun

• Tight building envelope – proper sealant techniques for windows and doors, insulation values

• Solar hot water heaters and radiators – Uses the sun to heat water for household use or for use in radiant baseboard and in-floor heat

• Thermal mass – Uses materials that hold heat well like water and concrete to collect heat during the day and offload the heat at night.

• Alternative heating and cooling methods like geothermal (uses the stable temperature of the ground to pre-heat and pre-cool air for conditioning)

More Net Zero Tips: Reduce lighting loads

• High windows, solar tubes, skylights and light interiors – bring natural light into the core of building

• Building automation – integrated sensors find where energy is or isn’t needed and optimizes where needed (reduces lighting, heating and cooling loads)

Thank you to Jamie Daugaard a Montana Architect and owner of Centre Sky Architecture in Big Sky Montana