Net Zero Vs. Net Zero Ready Homes

These days, living the most environmentally friendly and efficient life possible is becoming a significantly greater priority for many people. While many of us try to reduce waste and watch our carbon footprints in order to help reduce the impact on the environment, we don’t often think about our houses as being a key factor when it comes to such issues. However, our home should be considered since global electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are heavily influenced by residential construction. A net zero or at least net zero ready home is the right choice if you want to drastically reduce your home’s energy consumption. But what exactly are the key differences between the two.

What is a Net Zero Ready Home?

A net zero ready home is, essentially, a home that’s able and ready to go net zero at some point in the future. Generally, with a net zero ready house, you still have the ability to easily install solar panels, as they are part of the design but have not yet been installed or used. In a net zero ready house, solar panels or other options will be able to be installed in the future as solar or other renewable energies become more affordable.

Essentially, net zero ready homes provide the benefits of a net-zero home without the initial financial investment. With this type of home, the homeowner has a streamlined, efficient path towards net zero energy once they are ready or able to do so. In many cases, while net zero-ready homes are not completely energy-efficient, they are still significantly more efficient than a standard home. Typically, they consume less energy, reducing the owner’s impacts on the environment as well as costs they might incur from bills.

What is a Net Zero Home?

Net zero energy generally refers to buildings that produce as much renewable energy on-site as they consume annually. It consists of a system of connected, energy-efficient homes that is airtight, well-insulated, and produces as much renewable energy as it consumes over the course of a year, leaving the occupants with net zero electricity bills, and a carbon-free home.

There is no such thing as just a “green home” or a house equipped with solar panels that use zero energy. To create a superior living space, zero-energy homes combine advanced design and superior building systems with energy efficiency and on-site solar panels. A zero-energy home is an affordable housing option that is also environmentally friendly. However, even though owners might save on bills over time due to significantly less energy consumption, these homes can also incur greater expenses upfront, hence the reason why so many people choose to opt for net zero ready instead. This option allows them to reduce initial expenses.

Why Opt for Net Zero or Net Zero Ready?

In order to reduce the environmental impact of our homes, we need to introduce net-zero ready and net-zero homes to the market. By reducing their reliance on the energy sector, net-zero and net-zero ready homes are the way forward for anyone who wishes to reduce their own expenses as well as their environmental impact. An energy-efficient home can also save its owners substantial operating costs over its lifetime. In fact, many builders and companies that offer net zero and net zero ready home options advertise as much as a 70% reduction in operational costs. So, to put it simply, they are an excellent investment for consumers, developers, and builders due to their increased comfort, safety, and durability.

Net zero homes are an incredibly wise choice for those who wish to reduce environmental impact as well as save on operational costs and bills over time. But not everyone is ready and able to purchase a net zero home right off the bat. In such cases, a net zero ready property, one that can become net zero in the future when the owners are able, is the next best option.