MINNEAPOLIS, December 2, 2021 (Newswire.com) – The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) is embarking on the 6th annual EEBA Team Zero Inventory of Zero Energy Homes and invites all zero energy (ZE) builders, designers, architects, developers and owners to upload their projects to the database.
The yearly report tracks ZE single and multifamily home trends and leaders across the U.S. and Canada. Currently, the Inventory includes ~28,000 ZE projects voluntarily submitted.
As of the 2020 report, all projects are zero-energy ready and above, with the minority of projects listed in the Inventory as net zero or net producers. “The reality is that many homes, although they may not achieve that absolute goal, are designed as part of the larger movement towards zero energy, and we can learn from all of them. So, we included all of them,” the report explains.
“Maintaining the Inventory is important because it sheds light on North American ZE growth patterns, high-performance technologies used, as well as the major players who are adopting ZE design and construction as a profitable business model,” EEBA’s CEO, Aaron Smith, says.
The need for ZE housing is clear. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. homes consume ~ 21% of the total energy used annually. As for carbon emissions, the average home releases 70% more CO2 into the environment than a typical car or about 17,320 lbs. yearly. Thus, reducing home energy demand to net zero is economically and environmentally critical as well as achievable.
EEBA Team Zero started tracking the proliferation of U.S. and Canadian ZE homes in 2015. Since then, the yearly report has shown a consistent upward trend, with the multifamily sector leading the pack. “Multiunit developers don’t adopt practices that aren’t profitable,” concluded Smith.
Those interested in submitting their projects to the Inventory can go to https://teamzero.org/add-your-listing/. Projects approved before Feb. 15, 2022, will be added to the 2021 report. For questions regarding the Inventory or other media inquiries, please contact mary@eeba.org.
About EEBA Team Zero
For over 35 years, EEBA has provided the most trusted resources for building science information and education in the construction industry. EEBA delivers turn-key educational resources and events designed to transform residential construction practices through high-performance design, marketing, materials, and technologies. In addition, EEBA reaches thousands of key decision-makers and other essential industry players each year through our educational events, the annual Summit, and various publications and resources. In 2021, the nonprofit Team Zero integrated their services and expertise into EEBA’s organization. This integration includes “The Gateway to Zero” and The Inventory of Zero Energy Homes Database and related reports. To learn more about EEBA Team Zero, visit www.eeba.org.