Zero-net home developments a niche market
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. — Homes being built in this Hudson Valley cul-de-sac offer prospective buyers wooded lots, pretty views — and the promise of thumbing your nose at the power utility.
These “zero-net energy” homes will feature thick walls, solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling systems, meaning families should be able to generate more energy over a year than they consume. These homes under construction112 kilometres north of New York City have costly green features. But the builders believe they are in tune with consumers increasingly concerned about the environment and fuel costs.
And there are homebuyers who are willing to pay more for savings down the line.
“I don’t have to worry about $6,000 worth of utilities to run a house,” said Gil Lobell, a current zero-net home dweller moving his family into a larger house in the new development. “I can use that money for other things, so we go on vacations because I’m not spending money on utilities.”
Zero-net homes require two things. They generate energy, typically solar, and they are designed in a way to reduce energy consumption through the use of energy-efficient appliances and insulation.
“The building envelope is the most important part of the puzzle,” said John Wright of Hudson Solar, which is working with Greenhill.
Zero-net homes are not new, but zero-net developments remain a niche. A big reason is the upfront costs. Threebedroom houses in this development start at $399,000 US. Wright said the upfront costs are mitigated in New York by tax credits and rebates that bring combined costs down. But just as it is for car buyers who pony up for a hybrid, the real selling point is long-term savings in energy costs.