- Photovoltaic panels
- Passive solar heating
- Geothermal heat pump
- Air lock entry system
- Heat recovery ventilator
- Low VOC paints, finishes and stains
- Extensive use of recycled materials
- Minimal construction waste
In a move showing real understanding of where energy can be stupidly wasted in building now: all the plumbing and the wiring is routed through completely airtight insulated channels to eliminate heat gain/loss.This can be an absolutely staggering amount; see Consider a New Measure of Carbon Footprint
And it is not just the plumbing and wiring that gets super protected this way: there is an ultra efficient thermal envelope to keep you cozy too. With insulation up to 8 inches thick and triple glazed windows, the walls achieve an R-40 value rating. The roof clocks in at a whopping R-67, while the concrete floor resides at a solid R-20, respectively.
Like the other Zero Energy Home prefab design covered here, the Bensonwood system allows for walls to be removed or slide into alternate positions, providing ultimate flexibility and functionality.
Solar roofs and geothermal ground heat exchange are the primary energy providers. The home is designed to produce its own solar electricity, but to be linked to the grid, which acts as a giant 100% efficient storage medium, to store any excess energy produced for use later, however, this prefab could be set up as a self generating zero home in rural areas with no link to the grid, and provide its own energy. Typically then it would have a battery to store excess energy created during the day, for use at night.