The Path to Healthy, Durable, Net-Zero Homes

There is an opportunity to make meaningful reductions in total energy use by addressing the energy consumption of our homes - to rethink the way they are designed, constructed and renovated. Extreme reductions in home energy use allow for a rooftop solar PV array that will produce as much energy as the home uses in a given year, making it a net-zero energy home. In addition to energy, occupant health and durability of the home are crucial considerations for the architect.

Stephanie Horowitz AIA of ZED will share the techniques employed on her firm’s high-performance homes that average an 80% reduction in Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and include both Passive House-certified and net-positive homes. She will share what works, what doesn’t, and pitfalls to avoid.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Discuss the energy, durability, and thermal comfort benefits to designing high-performance homes.
Analyze predicted and actual performance of a single-family home.
Identify ways in which design, detail, and specifications can have significant improvements in operational energy and thermal comfort.
Explore the potential future improvements to design, detailing and specifications for improving energy performance of single-family homes.

1.5 LU/HSW AIA credits are available.

Files associated with this and previous meetings can be downloaded from the Residential Design Committee Dropbox.