A good product meets real human needs. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs provides a powerful framework for converting those needs into effective messaging to homebuyers. To sell more zero energy homes, sellers should link the needs of buyers to the many benefits of zero energy homes.
Protect Homebuyers, Reward Efficiency
Economists often say that markets make the best decisions. But that can be true only when markets have accurate and complete information. Today, the housing market is flying blind regarding one of the most important characteristics of a home: energy use. The solution is mandatory energy disclosure at the time of sale. It’s good for buyers, sellers, and the climate.
Keep Zero Energy Construction Simple
Ted L. Clifton of Zero Energy Plans has been designing and building zero energy homes using structural insulated panels (SIPs) for many years. He shares his thoughts about affordability, building codes, and electrification in this interview.
This production builder in Denver met the challenge of designing two basic floor plans for zero energy homes that would fit on subdivision lots and still have enough space for rooftop solar. Through careful design and close coordination with the solar installer, the size of the solar array was trimmed by 18% — saving $3,200 in construction costs.
How To Drive Fossil Fuels Out of the US economy — Quickly
The US has everything it needs to decarbonize by 2030 with off-the-shelf technology. The transition can be accomplished by taking advantage of the normal pattern of replacing every piece of worn-out fossil-fuel-burning equipment with an electric equivalent. In short, electrify everything as fast as possible.
Study: Home Energy Ratings in Real Estate Listings Would Steer Buyers to Efficient Choices
It just makes sense that homebuyers would choose energy-efficient homes if given the choice. Currently, information about energy efficiency is largely absent from the housing market. A new study offers empirical evidence that mandatory energy disclosure boosts consumer interest in energy-efficient properties. Voluntary disclosure had little effect.
Cheap Clean Energy Makes New Natural Gas A Risky Bet Utility Regulators Should Avoid
Electric utilities have two choices for new generation sources: renewables or natural gas. Renewables coupled with grid-storage have become less costly and more reliable than gas. And the trend looks to be getting stronger.
What’s a Virtual Power Plant? Bay Area Consumers Will Soon Find Out
Virtual power plants increase electric service reliability, offer a backup power source during emergencies, and reduce consumer utility costs. Sunrun is installing 6,000 rooftop solar systems along with on-site batteries and is electronically linking them together into a coordinated system that serves customers while offering carbon-free, excess energy to the grid.
Housing developers know that scale is a key factor in affordability. Zero energy homes can be affordable tract homes as well as custom homes. SelahVista offers 61 single-family homes in central Washington state. These homes have the full package of zero energy ready efficiency, superior health, outstanding comfort, and affordability. Builder/developer Steve Wiese describes their approach.
All buildings above four stories have structures of concrete and steel. But using these materials creates unsustainable levels of greenhouse gases. New forms of laminated lumber allow the construction of buildings up to 15 stories high without the global warming burden of concrete and steel. More than that, these buildings are more resistant to fire and stunning to view.
Watch more on the Zero Energy Project YouTube Channel
Zero Net Energy Buildings with Marc Rosenbaum
BuildingEnergy NYC
GoGreen Seattle
Carbon Positive Reset
Solar Tour
EEBA High Performance Home Summit
Go Clean Energy
HabitatX
Getting to Zero Forum
