HomeNZ – Net-Zero Single Family Home Design Competition

Taking cues from the legacy of the 1950’s case study homes as well as the ubiquitous sprawling suburban developments, Home_nz brings together the spatial, material, environmental and renewable energy practices commonly used by the local construction industry to build the city’s growing communities.

Our approach to net-zero design was simple: reduce energy loads! In other words, instead of spending a lot of money on high efficiency equipment and renewable energy systems at the beginning, we spent the effort and resources on a well insulated building envelope, reduced hot water energy loads, designed for shade at all windows, specified efficient appliances, and many other energy reducing practices. Once the energy was reduced to the minimum, we then implemented high efficiency equipment, followed by renewable energy systems.