All parts of a Net Zero Home, work together to create the ultimate energy efficient living space. There are three main components of a Net Zero Home:

Most homes in Canada use around half of their energy consumption on space heating. Net Zero Homes, however, use roughly a quarter of the energy of a conventional built house on space heating. This is due to Net Zero Homes having an almost perfect building envelope. The building envelope of a home can be considered the “shell” of the home as it separates the inside environment from the outside environment. It encompasses the house’s overall airtightness, the insulation of walls, floors, ceilings, and foundation, as well as energy efficient windows and doors. The superior building envelope of a Net Zero Home is extremely airtight and uses increased insulation to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. This helps eliminate cooled or heated air from escaping through cracks and holes to the outdoors, which means that less energy is needed to cool and heat the home. As well, the improved building envelope makes it more comfortable. It allows for even temperatures throughout the house, stops drafts, and eliminates exterior noises. 

Due to Net Zero Home’s having a such a better building envelope than a conventional home, the mechanical systems, which include the space heating/cooling, water heating, and ventilation, are usually smaller, and energy efficient models are used. Heating and cooling for a Net Zero Home is commonly done by an electric air source heat pump. The hot water is usually heated with a condensing tank or an instantaneous tankless water heater. Exceptional indoor air quality is provided by a mechanical ventilation system that brings filtered fresh air into the home and takes stale air out. In turn, the filtered fresh-air system diminishes allergens and asthma triggers like dust, pollen, and outdoor air pollution for healthier living. Net Zero Homes also come equipped with an energy monitoring system that allows the homeowners to track how much energy is being used and if the house has a renewable energy system installed, it will show how much energy is being generated as well. 

Net Zero Homes produce as much clean energy as they consume with the help from on-site renewable energy systems. The most popular system is roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system- solar panels. They are reliable, require little maintenance, and the amount of energy they will produce annually is easy to estimate. If a battery system has not been installed in the house, the electricity generated from the renewable energy system goes to the utility grid, in the from of a power credit process agreement with the utility company called “net metering”. A Net Zero Home can incorporate net metering to offset its energy consumption, breaking even on an annual basis. Majority of Net Zero Homes in Canada produce an energy surplus in the summer and require more energy than they can produce in the winter, using renewable energy “credits” produced in the summer to offset the energy needed in the winter. Alternatively, other Net Zero Homes use batteries to store the electricity generated on-site to power the home during peak hours, blackouts, and sometimes even to charge an electric vehicle. 

Discovery Homes understands how to incorporate these building techniques into a beautiful, energy efficient home that is the top of the line in comfort and efficiency.