Building More Energy-Efficient Homes for our Veterans
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Energy Positive Homes, Inc. in Mondovi, Wisconsin will work with builders in designing and constructing communities for veterans that create more energy than they consume. We combine SIP's (Structural Insulated Panels), a specific type of foundation, Mini-splits for heating and air conditioning, and solar panels connected to the grid. These homes are built to create 110% of the estimated energy needed for each home, for new home construction costs of today.
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Model Home built and tested
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The model home is located in Clear Lake, Iowa built by Equinox Energy Homes.
www.sunpoweredhome.net It is a 2,400 square foot 4-bedroom 3-bath house which has had no heat or electric bills since being finished last year. A HERS score (Home Energy Rating System) of a standard used home is 130. An average new home scores a baseline of 100. (lower is more efficient). An efficient home can boast of a score of around 50. The Iowa model home had a projected HERS Index score of 6, and has proven a score of LESS THAN ZERO over the last year (It has created more energy than it has used for heating and cooling by design, being Energy Positive). |
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The Benefits
People on a limited or fixed income will benefit from having no heat or electric bills. They can also charge a hybrid vehicle with the extra electricity produced without having to plug it in (possibly using induction charging) saving on fuel costs too.
Additionally, they can use 70% to 80% less water, as these homes can have atomizers in the showers and faucets produced by Nebia and Altered:Nozzle. (Click on the names to learn more)
These homes will be priced around new construction prices, but be better in so many ways. With a much smaller energy appetite, they will need fewer solar cells to power them. They go up faster, are 2 1/2 times stronger, quieter, and feature a robotic vacuum. Robotic lawn mowers are possible, as well as heated sidewalks for cold climates in areas that allow them.
The net cost of owning an Energy Positive Home can be $200 to $500 less per month than a typical new home.
