What is a net-zero home?
A net-zero home produces the same amount of energy it consumes each year. To achieve net-zero home living, you need to maximize how much energy your home produces and consume it as efficiently as possible. It takes three steps to renovate a home to be net-zero:
An energy audit is a service in which a trained professional comes to your house to identify areas that could benefit from weatherization—potentially saving you hundreds of dollars a year. An energy audit will help you understand how energy currently flows through your home and where you can make simple updates to maximize energy efficiency.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes up to $1,600 in rebates for weatherization, which is the series of steps you can take to reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home. This may involve air sealing, insulation, door and window upgrades, and ventilation improvements. With severe weather events on the rise, small updates like these can make your home more comfortable and more efficient.
Energy-efficient appliances maximize the energy it takes to run them. Thankfully, there are lots of energy efficient electric appliances on the market today. The Inflation Reduction Act offers incredible tax incentives and rebates for updating appliances to electric – including replacing an HVAC system with a heat pump, or a gas stove with an induction or electric stove.
A home cannot be truly net-zero unless it produces its own energy. A well-suited solar system that offsets at least 100% of your energy usage allows you to produce the energy you need to power your home. A trusted SunPower dealer can help you determine how many solar panels you will need to accomplish this. Coupled with a solar + battery, you can effectively power your home at any time by utilizing the excess solar energy you stored during the day. There is a 30% tax credit available with the Inflation Reduction Act for both solar systems and solar battery storage.
Net-Zero Home