Achs Net-Zero Home

Getting to Net-Zero...Welcome to our new home! This house is very unique; it is the first house in the QCA built to three levels of qualifications: Energy Star, LEED*, and Net-Zero. Our goal was to build a home that was affordable, fits our life style, uses sustainable technology (green), and most importantly is net-zero (generates all of its own power). 

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Building at a Glance:

Name: Achs Net-Zero Home

Location: Port Byron, Ill.

Design/Construction: Blue Planet Carpenter/Evergreen Construction LLC

Use: Single Family Residence

Owners/Occupants: Jack and Molly Achs

House Plan: 4 bedroom, 3 bath, ranch with vaulted ceilings and loft, 2085 ft2, livable space (MF+Loft) with a 1279 ft2 finished basement, plus 786 ft2 attached 3 car garage. Total conditioned space 4,279 ft2 (MF, Loft, Upper Storage Rms, Basement).

Features: Net-zero energy, LEED* Platinum Certification, Energy Star v3 Certification with Indoor airPLUS, HERS 35** rating, exceptionally insulated with 12 in. structural insulated panel (SIP) roof (R-55.56), 6in. SIP walls (R-29.41), 4in. XPS under basement slab (R-20), Thermomass foundation walls and insulated basement (R-21), super sealed infiltration of only 364cfm@50pa which equates to .49ACHn (Passive House Stds), Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) unit providing fresh air into the house, 7.15 kW DC grid-connected solar PV with a roof pitch of 10/12 (39.81 degrees), clerestory overhang with optimal orientation for solar design (passive heat gain into the living room), 36,000 BTU (3-ton) Air Handling Unit connected to a 36,000 BTU (3-ton) 20 SEER Heat Pump with variable speed, 85% permeable lot with zero runoff, 1,700 gallon rainwater collection cistern, 88% reduction irrigation, Wildflower habitat, ADA compliant, EPA WaterSense fixtures and fittings, structured plumbing system with R-4 insulation, Energy Star appliances & ceiling fans, FEMA designed 5'x6'8" storm shelter, 100% LED lighting, and 86.6% high efficiency/55,000 BTU wood burning fireplace both EPA certified and Washington State approved with only 3.7 gr/hr emissions. Note: Landscaping scheduled for fall 2021 with solar panels scheduled fall 2025.

Ground Breaking:  September 2014

Occupancy: October 2015

Certification**:  May 2016        HERS*** rating: 35

* The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This house was designed to meet LEED Platinum (highest), 115 out of 96 possible points. Note: HERS is interconnected with LEED. Additional energy savings will result in a final HERS rating of 0 thereby achieving our goal of being net-zero (fall 2025 with the installation of the solar panels).

**Note: This house was built to meet LEED platinum requirements and will be Net-Zero but will receive only the Energy Star certification.

***Final rating w/o solar panels. HERS is a scoring system established by RESNET in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home. The lower a home's HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is. Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index = 1% reduction in energy.