What is a net-zero home?

8 Feb

We’ve all heard the term ‘net-zero’, but what exactly does it mean and why is it important to us?

Net-zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas released and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Going net-zero is important as we can tackle climate change by reducing global warming. What we do now and in the next decade to limit emissions will be critical to a greener and better future.

A net-zero home is designed and built for energy conservation; using renewable energy systems to generate the energy they need, these homes produce as much energy as they consume, without using fossil fuels. As long as the annual net-energy consumption is zero, a home can be called net-zero.

BillionBricks’ homes do exactly that by not only making their own energy but also harvesting 100% of the rainwater, cleaning sewage and growing food.

BillionBricks net-zero home

A BillionBricks home consists of 45 to 82 square meters of living area and a roofing system with integrated solar. It has a 10KW solar generation capacity and can save up to 6 tons of CO2 emissions per year - equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 6.7 acres of forests in a year. This provides up to a 20% reduction in purchase price over time due to electricity cost savings. It also has a structural life of 60 years and is designed to resist earthquakes and typhoons.

Our homes are sustainably built through a three-pronged strategy. We design the homes to operate passively. We add essential active sustainable technologies to become off-grid and achieve an almost zero carbon footprint. We engage with homeowners to raise awareness of the mindful consumption of resources and maintenance of their homes and systems.

Energy

Passive: Build well insulated and naturally ventilated homes
Active: Provide energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Awareness: Reduce wastage of electricity

Water

Passive: Maintain natural site drainage
Active: Harvest 100% of rooftop rainwater in an underground tank
Awareness: Reduce wastage of water

Wastewater

Passive: Clean wastewater inbuilt septic tank and reed bed system
Active: Recycle and reuse 100% of wastewater locally by applying treatment technologies to enhance its quality
Awareness: Be open to personal use of treated wastewater

Solid waste

Passive: Avoid throwing in landfill and manage organic waste in the community
Active: Install bio-digestors and Waste-to-Energy systems
Awareness: Reduce, reuse and recycle as much waste as possible and get familiar with circular economy

Food

Passive: Grow food in the vegetable garden in each house and in the communal gardens
Active: Develop community led high yield farming systems such as indoor and vertical farms, hydroponics, permaculture, etc.
Awareness: Be aware of the importance of healthy eating and the positive impact of growing local foods

Our homes include technologies and practices that enhance the quality of living, reduce environmental impact, conserve natural resources and improve affordability.

Find more information about our net-zero housing solutions here .

Prasoon Kumar

Prasoon Kumar is the Co-Founder and CEO of BillionBricks is a President’s Design Awardee, TEDx speaker and social justice campaigner working towards eradicating homelessness.