Page 15 - Green Builder Magazine Sept-Oct 2021

VER LININGS CONTENT COURTESY OF

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
EDITED BY GREEN BUILDER STAFF

ZERO ENERGY READY HOME AWARD WINNERS HAVE USED THE PANDEMIC AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO NORMALIZE HIGH-PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES AND PRODUCTS.

What was thought to be a short-term problem has turned into There were ground rules: The ZERH program requires
a continual challenge. As the pandemic rolls well into its second certification to Energy Star Certified Homes Version 3.0,
year, the public is beginning to carefully return to pre-COVID-19 A3.1 or 3.2, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection
habits. The construction industry is following suit, with builders Agency (EPA)’s Indoor airPLUS program, and the hot water
unveiling new projects and construction techniques. distribution requirements of EPA’s WaterSense program. The
In this year’s showcase of recent U.S. Department of Energy project must also meet the insulation mandates of Interna-
(DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) Housing Innovation tional Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and other manda-
Awards winners, we feature builders who are tackling traditional tory requirements of the DOE program.
problems—climate control, utility costs, durability and overall This suite of ZERH homes also demonstrate how traditional
design—while also trying to catch consumers’ eyes. forms can often coexist with cutting edge innovations.

Dry (B) Moist (A)
Marine (C)

7
6
4 6

5
5

4

3
2 3 Warm-Humid
Below White Line

2 2
All of Alaska is in Zone 7, except
for the following boroughs which
are in Zone 8: Bethel, Dellingham, Zone 1 includes Hawaii,
Fairbanks N. Star, Nome, North Slope, Guam, Puerto Rico and
Northwest Arctic, Southest Fairbanks, the Virgin Islands 1
Wade Hampton, Yukon-Koyukuk

Regional divide. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)'s energy Climate Zone:
efficiency requirement—a key part of Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH)
program qualifying criteria—varies by climate zone. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

www.greenbuildermedia.com September/October 2021 GREEN BUILDER 13