Working towards net zero relies on collaboration and everyone playing their part. EkoBuilt is a company helping US homeowners put net zero at the center of their housing decisions – Mercedes Killeen explains how.
The Importance of Net Zero
Net zero, defined as “a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere,” is both a micro and macro goal.
In the housing space, net zero broadly means “having your home produce as much or more energy than it needs to run.”
With climate change being a defining challenge for our times, net zero goals are crucial. And while you may think that building a single sustainable home might not make a big difference, the statistics are surprising.
Housing Choices That Reduce Carbon Emissions
The operation of buildings accounts “for 30% of global final energy consumption.” While one house may seem small when thinking globally, as with any environmental initiative, it takes a widespread movement for massive change to happen.
That’s where EkoBuilt’s passive house solutions come in. Based in Ottawa, Canada, we’re on a mission to help bring passive houses to the masses. Passive houses are built in such a way – greatly exceeding Code – that they use 90% less heating and cooling energy than a conventional home.
We ship our passive house floorplans and kits across the USA and Canada, reducing greenhouse gas emissions across North America. This means that people across the United States can feel empowered to pave their own way and reduce their carbon footprints.
Sustainable US Homes
An EkoBuilt home is a sustainable home. It allows you to make an environmental statement with probably the biggest purchase of your life: your house!
And while there are marginal increases to the building costs (generally in the range of 5-10%), the 50% lower lifecycle costs for mechanicals, 90% reduction in energy costs, and 1,000,000 lbs of CO2 reduction over 50 years all add up to this being a solid option for your next build.
So if net zero is something you’re personally interested in, the passive house construction model is a logical next step. Creating a sustainable home greatly impacts your heating and cooling energy use.
Would you like to learn more about passive houses and EkoBuilt? Their comprehensive Learning Centre has all the resources you need to discover more about this modern construction model.
Want to see passive houses in practice? We have various passive house plans and kits that you can easily find here. From tiny homes to houses upwards of 3000 square feet, you’re sure to find a thing or two that sparks your interest.
