Home Sweet Zero Energy Home: What It Takes to Develop Great Homes that Won't Cost Anything to Heat, Cool or Light Up, Without Going Broke or Crazy (Mother Earth News Books for Wiser Living)

This book has a lot of resources and info, very simply it covers a lot of home components, and what is likely to save you a bunch of money - as well as pro's and con's. It is a book I will refer to very often when considering what is a good investment for my condo or possibly my home in the future. Most of us can not afford to do everything regarding energy-efficiency, we must decide where to spend our home improvement money wisely - in my condo I have tried to buy very energy-efficient window a/c's, use the best window film I could buy to insulate my single-pane windows, and reject the harsh summer sun of Lakeside CA - a desert-like area - seal my windows as well as I can, hold them tight with sliding window locks at the top & bottom of the window, insulate walls with spray foam anytime they are opened for any reason (such as my upcoming replacement of a shower surround) - florescent bulbs, and one or two LED"s, etc - This book will help you pick and choose what is practical for you to do in your area to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. One item I would like examined more in detail would be dome homes, which is what I would prefer to build, as well as the best materials for a dome home. The author Jan Hornas, who I have not been able to locate, wrote a book years ago on the proper mix of concrete being the best material for a dome home - would love to see how his/her creations have fared over the years, and how efficient are they?

I was highly disappointed by this book and should have read the reviews here before buying, but alas... At any rate, when the title states "Zero Energy" it means zero energy- in all aspects of construction; everything from the "green-ness" of how individual items are manufactured, to how they are transported, and eventually utilized in how much power items such as appliances draw. This book very much supports giving back to the grid and so is geared for those living in suburbs/subdivisions, and, to a much lesser degree, apartments. This book is NOT for someone looking to go off-grid or even building a nest beyond city limits- because, obviously, it requires more energy to transport products to the site and producing all of your own energy all the time is near impossible, as implied by the author. He also condemns fireplaces/stoves, and is not exactly pro-natural resources such as logs for log homes, because it takes so many years to regrow another tree. He prefers recycling. This book is not for a do-it-yourselfer, a loner, someone on a limited budget, etc. If you really want to read it, I suggest a library.

I enjoyed this book a LOT. I live in the development mentioned in the first chapter.I have yet to receive an electric bill (still living on credits stored up from last summer).Anyway, I learned a lot about TRUE zero energy homes (and how they may not TRULY exist)butwe are happy with ours and feel we are living very lost to zero energy ... saving money andthe environment. We live a green life (no chemicals in the house or on the lawn) we recycle moreand making changes each and everyday! This was well written for the builder or the first time home buyer!Once you read it, you will WANT a home with solar panels....because you will understand it better!

This is a good book for the average homeowner, but weak for anyone who has read other books or magazines on the topic.

This author did a tremendous job in covering the subject matter very thoroughly. I will continue to reread parts of this book over and over as I start my own zero energy home. I have never enjoyed any book in the past as much as this one. Any contractor could use this as a guide.

Golly, a few reviewers here were pretty rough on this book. Is it the ultimate tell all, be all? No, not @ all. Would it be good for someone who has absolutely no idea what a zero energy home is? I believe so, and the sad fact is, @ least in my admittedly humble opinion, that many Americans or Canadians have little if any idea as to what great energy saving ideas are out there. For them this book would probably be a very good one. For those of us whose hobby it is to use as little carbon based energy as possible? This book is not so good. I do not believe we, however, were the author's target audience. Good book. Limited, to be sure, but I believe by design. Got it @ my local library. I do not purchase many books.

This book seemed largely designed as an introduction for people who haven't done much reading or research on the topics presented. Many ideas were addressed only at very shallow levels, or were very basic concepts, i.e. using passive solar energy. The other big disappointment is that it dealt heavily with design/construction, to the point that it was focused on new builds to the exclusion of retrofits or upgrades.Considering that there is much more call for retrofits and improvements to existing properties than opportunity to start completely fresh, that felt like a glaring oversight to me.All things considered, I suggest skipping this one. I recommend  Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners . It's not strictly Zero Energy focused, but it's a much more realistic guide for choosing and implementing healthy and green options for your home - whether you're building new or not.

I was skeptical when I saw the title. Zero Energy that's crazy, why not just lower energy? Upon reading, I found out that the Zero part comes by having solar panels that feed back into the grid on sunny days and zero out your electricity bill. Solar panels, enough to produce five kilowatts per year etc., are still real expensive, like $20,000 - $30,000 and up, but they last 20 years and are beginning to be built and bought.Other things in the book cover super-insulated walls and attics, windows, appliances, HVAC(heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, including geothermal heating and cooling. There are lots of references to web sites for ratings and info. There's chapter on tax credits and other incentives. All and all a good intro to energy efficient building and savings.