What is a "zero net energy" home?

A "zero net energy" home is a type of house that is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. This is achieved through a combination of energy-efficient design and renewable energy technologies.

Here are the steps that explain how a zero net energy home works:

1. Energy-Efficient Design: The first step in creating a zero net energy home is to minimize energy use as much as possible. This is done through energy-efficient design and construction techniques. For example, the home may be designed to take advantage of natural light to reduce the need for artificial lighting. It may also be well-insulated to reduce the need for heating and cooling.

2. Renewable Energy Technologies: Once the home's energy use has been minimized, the next step is to install renewable energy technologies to generate power. This typically involves solar panels, but could also include wind turbines, geothermal systems, or other renewable energy sources.

3. Energy Storage: In order to ensure that the home can provide its own power even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing, some zero net energy homes also include energy storage systems. These systems store excess power generated during the day for use at night or during periods of high demand.

4. Net Metering: Finally, most zero net energy homes are connected to the grid through a system known as net metering. This allows the home to draw power from the grid when it's not producing enough of its own, and to feed excess power back into the grid when it's producing more than it needs. Over the course of a year, the goal is for the home to produce as much power as it consumes, resulting in a "net" energy use of zero.

In summary, a zero net energy home is a home that is designed to be highly energy efficient and to generate its own power through renewable energy technologies, with the goal of having a net energy use of zero over the course of a year.