Net-Zero Ready

Net-Zero Energy Homes start with hi-performance building techniques

For Increased Comfort, Safety, Durability, Resource efficiency, a dramatic decrease in Energy costs and a significantly smaller carbon footprint

Homes built to Wright Jenkins Home Plans specifications routinely consume just half of the energy that a typical new home does. In fact, with the addition of solar, more true Net-Zero Energy Homes have been built from our Pre-Drawn plans than any other. A Net-Zero Energy Home is defined as a home that produces as much energy as it uses over a twelve month period.

The Basic Building Blocks of Net-Zero Energy Homes.

Our Pre-Drawn Wright Jenkins Home Plans all have the entire mechanical system within conditioned space. The mechanical system is engineered taking into account a list of factors which include; the home’s orientation on the property, the roof overhangs and shade available, the wall and attic insulation, window performance, available fuel sources, lighting, appliances, hot water and other items that impact the energy calculations. Hi-performance home building and best building practices is a prerequisite to Net-Zero Energy Homes that’s certainly a comprehensive approach to home building but offers astounding beneficial results.

One of the many benefits is extended life of the equipment and a virtually maintenance free duct system. Simply put, Wright Jenkins homes are built better built, resulting in a more durable and a more resource and energy efficient hi-performance home. Our homeowners can expect to enjoy at least a 50% reduction in energy bills and mechanical system installation costs when compared to a code minimum built new home.

With a team approach to hi-performance construction, the designer, building scientist and builder review the recommended mechanical system and proper insulation installation for a tighter thermal envelope. This greatly reduces improper installation resulting in a much safer and more comfortable home.

A mechanical cooling and heating system should not be heard, seen or felt. A balanced, optimally designed system results in more even temperatures from room-to-room, a more comfortable home. The increased comfort and and more quiet home results from properly engineered mechanical equipment and predetermined air pathways throughout the home.

Wright Jenkins Homes wood frame homes are designed with Advanced Framing. Advanced Frame built homes use significantly less lumber while increasing the home’s structural integrity. Fewer framing members mean more opportunity for optimal wall insulation. This more resource efficient home is also constructed with 20% less lumber waste while adding to the safety, durability, resource and energy efficiency of the home.

Wright Jenkins Home Plans use of raised heel and cantilevered trusses in a vented attic, allow for higher R-Value insulation in the attic, optimally specific to the climate zone. Properly installed rigid foam insulation (with no voids or gaps) on the inbound side of a block wall prevalent in South Florida and the Caribbean, offers optimal wall insulation in a hot and humid climate. 

Wright Jenkins Home Plans recommends a slab foundation where possible. One of the many benefits of a slab is that it helps keep a home more comfortable in winter and summer. This structurally sound foundation also adds to the home’s durability, safety and resource efficiency while using less lumber.

Wright Jenkins Home Plans designed the first Production-Built Net-Zero Energy Home in 2009 and have since been involved in more NZEHomes than any other American design firm. It’s fair to say that we took Net-Zero Energy Homes from myth to mainstream! Now with over 200 Pre-Drawn Wright Jenkins Home Plans, starting under 1300 sq. ft. up to 5800 sq. ft. and every size in between and in numerous architectural styles. All are designed to make the most out of every square foot and exclusively provide 50% - 70% lower energy costs then a typical new, code minimum home.

Much of this “know-how” was the result of ten years working with the acclaimed building scientist, Ken Fonorow of Florida Hero and we are indebted to his willingness to share his incredible warehouse of knowledge. If a hi-performance, energy-efficient and even a Net-Zero Energy Home is what you are after, we strongly recommend that Mr. Fonorow be consulted to provide energy calcs, HVAC system design and best building practices consultation. Please visit his website: http://www.floridahero.com

The actual energy usage of an Wright Jenkins Home routinely beats the HERS Index by 25%!!

NOTE: Results may vary based upon many factors such as; the builder’s attention to detail, fidelity to proper execution – determining the air tightness of the thermal envelope, the appropriate sized and engineered mechanical system all within conditioned space, etc.

Why build Hi-Performance or even a Net-Zero Energy Home?

• Significantly reduce or even eliminate ever increasing energy bills.

• Improve indoor air quality for a healthier and a more comfortable home.

• Reduce impact on the environment.

• Qualify for a more favorable Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM).

The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index, as provided by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), with uniform testing and verification is an energy-efficiency scoring system based on the International Energy Conservation code (IECC).

A building is scored from zero to one-hundred, where each point equals a 1% increase in energy consumption. So, a home with an excellent HERS index of 50 uses half the energy of a 100 HERS home the current code minimum. With the addition of renewables such as solar power, a home may be engineered to score a HERS rating of 0, producing as much energy as it uses over the course of a year. This is a true Net-Zero energy home.

Incorporating both state-of-the-art design and building science engineering, ESHP Hi-Performance homes save an unprecedented amount of energy.

Cooperation between the home designer, building scientist and builder results in remarkably low HERS index Scores and amazingly low energy bills. The process of creating a Hi-Performance home begins at the drawing board:

1. The home’s placement on the lot, the AC/Heating delivery systems, overhangs for shading, etc. (Save hundreds of dollars every month that was once paid to utility companies, greatly reducing a home’s montly cost of ownership).

2. Advanced construction methods that result in cost effective R-Value in the walls, flooring, attic, ceilings, etc.

3. The building materials such as hi-performance windows, doors, and Energy-Star rated ceiling fans and appliances.

4. A RESNET or Building Science professional can accurately estimate a home’s energy usage before it is built.

DOE Case Studies

Wright Jenkins Home Plans is pleased to be able to take part in detailed and exhaustive U.S. Department of Energy Case Studies. The “proof is in the pudding,” as they say. Third party verification of real-life performance is invaluable and we think you’ll agree! There is good reason we are the only residential design firm named a Research Partner by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Leland, North Carolina

Building America partners Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Wright Jenkins Home Plans and Florida H.E.R.O. recently worked with North Carolina-based builder Heritage Buildings, Inc., to make the conversion to . . .

Cape Coral, Florida

Ravenwood Homes built its first high-performance home in southwestern Florida in 2011. A Building America design team consisting of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Wright Jenkins Home Plans, LLC, and . . .

Gainesville, Florida

Fortunately, this issue was identified midway through construction and could still be easily corrected by walking the attic floor prior to insulation installation and sealing any identified holes with foam or caulk.

Gainesville, Florida

These high-performance homes in northern Florida are two that have achieved Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ratings of less than zero since Building America (BA) builders started building them in 2010.