Utility 'Zero Energy Home' Evaluation
For the past several years, SWA has teamed with Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) to research the costs and benefits of a home 
approaching “zero energy.” This custom home was completed in Hadley, MA in 2004 and included many upgrades in efficiency: improved insulation, excellent air sealing, high-performance windows, 100% compact fluorescent lighting, and efficient appliances. The home also incorporated solar electric and solar domestic water heating systems. With funding from the DOE Building America program, SWA monitored performance of both solar systems and other home energy systems.
Over the two years monitored, occupants in the home used less than 10 kWh per day – about one-third the regional average for a home of this size. In addition, the photovoltaic system provided 78% of this reduced electric load. The solar thermal system worked well also, providing 58% of domestic water heating energy.
Largely because the home was a net generator of electricity during WMECO’s peak demand periods, the benefit-to-cost ratio for the energy improvements to the home were calculated to be 1.32 (using the Total Resource test). This initial study showed that the combination of efficiency and renewable energy can truly be cost effective. SWA continues to work with WMECO on “Zero Energy Home” initiatives in Western Massachusetts.
For more info on this project
For more info on CARB, SWA’s Building America team
Improving the built environment through research, sustainable design and technology. © 2008 Steven Winter Associates, Inc.