14 DAY TRIAL // Why bother constantly thinking of ways to cut energy consumption when you can have a net-zero energy home built from the ground up? That is exactly what the folks at KB Home thought when coming up with the ZeroHouse 2.0 concept that is said to be able to entirely eliminate energy costs.
This next-generation of energy-efficient home designs are currently available in Tampa, San Antonio and Austin, with the national rollout to continue through 2012.
The concept presented by KB Home include solar power systems and building techniques and features that enhance efficiency well beyond KB Home’s ENERGY STAR qualified standard that saves $1,000 annually on the energy utility costs on average.
Also, a guided tour to a ZeroHouse 2.0 model home is available to interested customers, who will be introduced to the features, some visible and some hidden behind the walls, that help reduce energy costs.
According to KB Home, a higher efficiency can be obtained when these features are fitted from the inside out, beginning with increased insulation, upgraded HVAC systems and dual-pane, low-e windows and ends with solar panels on the roof.
“Thousands of KB homeowners are already enjoying savings on their monthly energy costs thanks to our standard ENERGY STAR qualified homes,” said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief executive officer of KB Home, in a statement for the press. “With the introduction of the ZeroHouse 2.0 program, we are now able to offer homebuyers a home that outperforms typical new and resale homes, reduces their monthly electric bill significantly and potentially gets it all the way down to zero.”
Designed to help lower the total cost of homeownership for homebuyers, the ZeroHouse 2.0 will be offered as an option of the ‘Built to Order’process, taking the customer from the first construction phase to the final inspection where they are given the keys to their new home.
However, despite their designation, the Los Angeles-based isn't guaranteeing that these ZeroHouse 2.0 homes will actually perform as net-zero.