We will be building a new house next spring. I’ve heard a lot of discussion about “net zero energy use” housing design so I did some research and most of the ideas include very expensive technology like ground source heat pumps and water heat recovery systems. I wondering if you could suggest any strategies to reduce energy use that would be less costly but effective?

Unfortunately, saving energy (and money) in the long term usually means spending energy (and money) in the short term. The good news is that the short term costs to make your new home more energy efficient will be amortized quickly over the life cycle of the house you and many other families will enjoy for years to come. Here are a few simple suggestions that will pay you and the environment back quickly.

First, when designing your floor plans, consider the size of the building footprint. Smaller houses use less energy than large houses. A footprint of 1200 square feet or less will easily provide for the needs of most families. As energy costs continue to soar, the sprawling houses of yesteryear, much like gas guzzling cars, will become less and less marketable to energy conscious consumers. So, you can be confident that your new home will have long-term re-sale appeal.

If possible, ensure that your new home is sited with the long axis running east – west so you can take advantage of passive and active solar panels if you choose to incorporate photovoltaic hot water heat and supplemental electrical power on the roof. Situate most of your window fenestrations on the south wall. On this wall, choose window glazing that captures solar gain. Incorporate a large roof overhang on the south wall to control overheating during summer months. On the other walls, use smaller triple glazed windows that retain the maximum R value within the building envelope. Install thermal screen doors outboard of all your exterior doors.

Insulate your attic to R100. To achieve proper attic ventilation with this value, you may need to adjust your roof trusses to a “high heel” design that will accommodate the additional insulation thickness at the exterior walls. Insulate your walls to R40₊ by incorporating double staggered 2”x 6” framing and high density blown or fiberglass insulation. Consider using straw bale wall construction to capitalize on the best wall R values and the natural aesthetics. Use a Styrofoam form system for you concrete foundation walls to achieve at least R20 insulation values. 

Be sure your builder implements R2000 building practices. In other words, your contractor should be familiar with all the newest strategies for reducing thermal bridging, caulking and flashing details, rain screen principles and the fundamentals of new mechanical technologies like solar panel installation, heat exchangers and heat pump technologies. When choosing equipment that consumes energy, ensure that all your lights and appliances offer optimal energy efficiency. Look for new technology like LED and compact fluorescent lighting and Energy Star rated appliances. Zero energy houses are the vanguard of the building industry. Your efforts to achieve zero energy consumption will ensure your comfort, economy and market value for many years into the future.