EEBA Academy

• Installing HPWHs in new, all-electric homes.
• Why builders are installing and love HPWH.
• What are the benefits and challenges of installing HPWH in new homes? 
• Are builders modifying their home designs to fit and take advantage of HPWH?
• What are homeowners saying when they buy homes with HPWHs? 
• Any lessons that can be applied to installing HPWHs in existing homes?

The Ultimate Z.E.N. Home features a 7.8 kWh rooftop solar array as a standard feature to help achieve net-zero energy goals. But instead of selling surplus electricity back to the local utility as energy credits, an innovative battery storage system scaled for single-family keeps it on site.

This 1924 Colonial home had fallen into severe disrepair before coming up for sale. As part of the muchneeded renovation, the new homeowners (two Steven Winter Associates, Inc. employees) wanted to eliminate onsite combustion and produce as much of their operating electricity as possible. Other goals included lower embodied energy materials and a healthy indoor environment. LEED v4.1 for Homes offered one platform to address energy, health, and materials. The home was gutted down to the foundation, framing, and floors before the year-long renovation. After the first 8 months of occupancy (July-February), the home produced 14% more energy than it consumed.

There are hundreds of technologies available on the market today that are designed to "green" your home. However, a new market is emerging that takes home energy management to the next level: energy storage.