Zero Net Energy Homes in Washington State: An Emerging Trend?

A home building company in Seattle, Howland Homes, recently announced that it will start construction on zHome, a development of 10 townhomes that use zero net energy, 60 percent less water and have clean indoor air.

The development will be built east of Seattle in Issaquah, Washington. Since 2004, Issaquah has required new buildings to meet certain environmental standards and has offered incentives, such as expedited permitting and free green-building consulting, to private developers who do the same.

The homes will cut energy use through such measures as extra insulation, triple-pane windows, LED lighting and ground-source heat pumps, and offset the energy use with solar panels that generate power. The homes will cut water use with rain recycling and efficient water fixtures, reduce runoff with rain recycling, incorporate salvaged, reclaimed and locally made materials, divert 90 percent of construction debris through waste prevention and recycling and use ventilation and healthier materials to improve air quality.

The homes will cost about 25 percent more to build than traditional townhouses. However, because the land was donated for free, they will sell for only 5-10% more, with prices starting around $400,000. The homes are expected to be finished next fall.

Will zero-net energy homes become the next hot building trend? Only time will tell.