Little Things Add Up in a Net Zero Energy Home

Little Things Add Up in a Net Zero Energy Home 1

We build high-performance custom homes in New Hampshire and Vermont. In order for the owner to benefit from the State of New Hampshire’s Energy Star program, we have to comply with their strict performance criteria of the shell of the house. The State of NH sends their own inspector to the site and when he…

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The 3 Latest Technologies You Need to Build a High Performance Home

The 3 Latest Technologies You Need to Build a High Performance Home 3

Are you thinking about building a net-zero home in Vermont but find the technical terms confusing? Many of the terms used to describe net zero can be confusing only because they are new terms. A net-zero home in Vermont or New Hampshire—regions are known for temperature extremes—needs to rely on the best technologies to achieve the…

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Downsizing Your Home: All That Glitters Is Not Golden

Downsizing Your Home: All That Glitters Is Not Golden 6

So you’ve decided to start downsizing your home, and you want to live in Vermont, so now you’re searching for a builder who specializes in high-performance/zero energy home construction. You look online, you search everywhere … and you finally connect with someone who is “certified” in the field, and who promises to do the work…

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Downsizing for Seniors: Why You Need The Net Zero Energy Option

Downsizing for Seniors: Why You Need The Net Zero Energy Option 8

This article assumes that you are a senior and you are trying to discern the most prudent approach to downsizing: Okay, when you hear the words “net zero,” what comes to mind: __My favorite basketball player missed the buzzer-beater __ My investments just tanked __ My credit card is maxed out. __It’s a new credit…

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Heat Recovery Ventilation Facts for Net Zero Homes in Vermont

Heat Recovery Ventilation Facts for Net Zero Homes in Vermont 13

When it comes to energy efficiency in Vermont, it’s important to design net zero homes to have heat recovery ventilation systems built into them. But what exactly is a heat recovery ventilation system, and what does it do? In short, a heat recovery ventilator, or HRV, warms incoming fresh air with heat from the outgoing stale air…

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Downsizing for Seniors: Zero Energy Home Construction in Vermont

Downsizing for Seniors: Zero Energy Home Construction in Vermont 15

ou’ve decided that it’s time to downsize and to do it in Vermont, so now you’re searching for a builder who specializes in high performance / zero energy home construction. Well, two out of three “ain’t bad” as they say. Some prefer to use the word “rightsize” rather than “downsize,” but we don’t get hung…

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The 3 Top Things to Avoid When Building a Net Zero Home in Vermont

The 3 Top Things to Avoid When Building a Net Zero Home in Vermont 18

Building a net zero home in Vermont is becoming the new norm in residential construction. Want proof?  Check out the almost limitless amount of media buzz, ready support from utility companies and government…and the plethora of clearly visible “solar farms” along the state’s highways. But constructing a net zero home in Vermont, New Hampshire, or…

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Little Things Add Up in a Net Zero Energy Home

Little Things Add Up in a Net Zero Energy Home 20

We build high-performance custom homes in New Hampshire and Vermont. In order for the owner to benefit from the State of New Hampshire’s Energy Star program, we have to comply with their strict performance criteria of the shell of the house. The State of NH sends their own inspector to the site and when he…

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The Monster Is In The House

The Monster Is In The House 22

Just after Christmas, the cold snap arrived, just as predicted by The Old Farmer’s Almanac. At first, the man wasn’t too concerned. The oil tank was full, he had managed to split and stack quite a lot of poplar. The first night wasn’t so bad; the big thermometer on the tree outside registering just a little…

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