A Zero Energy Home (ZEH) is a home that produces at least as much energy as it needs to function. The home is still connected to the utility grid, but it is considered to have “net zero” energy consumption. Any excess energy production gets put back into the grid and many times can be “net metered” and provide the homeowner with the full retail value for that energy.
Pardee Homes took part in a Zero Energy Home project in Las Vegas back in 2004. Working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), they built a 5,300 SF home that uses solar cells on the roof to provide electricity and solar hot water system for their water. The home is said to use 90% less energy than a standard home of the same size built to code.
The State of Nevada has enacted legislation that provides for the net-metering** of renewable energy generation. For systems up to 100kW (typically homeowners) are eligible to receive credits on any additional power (net excess generation or NEG) not exceeding 150% of the customer’s peak demand. Those credits get carried forward to the next billing month.
Even with these incentives, homeowners may still find a 10 to 15 year pay back. However, planning for the future and the ever increasing price of energy, it could pay off sooner than we all think!
For more detailed information on the opportunities available, see the Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency website.
**Net metering is a utility resource usage and payment scheme in which a customer who gnerates their own power is compensated monetarily
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