Through a partnership between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Meritage Homes, BIRAenergy, Itron, SCE, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), a new community is under development of at least 20 zero net energy houses, the first development of a community of highly-efficient houses in the state.
California’s newest ZNE homes, designed by 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Meritage Homes, will feature solar panels, HVAC systems, water heating equipment, heat pumps and integrated fresh air ventilation. The dwellings will also have spray foam insulation, highly insulated windows, energy-efficient lighting, smart chargers and smart appliances.
With these technologies, the homes are projected to curb energy use by as much as 60 percent compared to a house built to the latest California Energy Code.
For more coverage, see EPRI’s news release and this article by EcoWatch. The project is also featured on SCE’s ZNE webpage, which also covers ZNE builds in Ontario, Irvine, and Lancaster.
For more on zero net energy in California, click here.