NJ's First 'Zero-Energy' Home To Be Built In Barnegat: Developer

BARNEGAT, NJ — A new Barnegat home will take energy efficiency to new heights, according to the developer. Walters, an architectural firm, will build in Barnegat what they say is New Jersey's first "zero-energy" home.

The developers except the 299 Hawthorne St. home called "Nova" to be ready by May. Zero-energy homes are uniquely designed to produce as much renewable energy as they consume in a year. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions.

Zero-energy homes are typically well-insulated, air-tight and energy efficient, leaving occupants with a net-zero energy will and carbon-free home, according to the Zero Energy Project.

"Although it looks like a typical home in a suburban neighborhood, it actually offers an unparalleled level of performance, combining superior comfort and healthy indoor air," said Walters President Ed Walters Jr.

The 2,000-square foot home will include four bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. The house sits on an "oversized" lot, and overall the size and style are comparable to nearby homes, according to Walters Homes.

The home costs about 10 percent more to build than a standard new home in the area. But the payback comes from indoor comfort, meaning no drafts and good indoor air quality, Walters says. A market price has not been publicly determined.

Other features will include the following:

• a continuous air barrier wrapping the entire home
• super-insulated walls and floors for comfort and sound reduction
• slim duct heat pump unit with inverter technology, meaning quieter operation and stable temperatures throughout
• hybrid hot water heater with protective alerts
• energy recovery ventilation system for fresh air intake and to maintain healthy indoor air
• super-efficient steel reinforced UPVC triple pane argon gas-filled windows

"There’s a new generation of environmentally conscious homebuyers that want sustainable homes, said Tiffany Rolfing, of Idea Broker, a bulider and consultant partnering in the home's development. "For now, there are incentives in place to build energy-efficient homes like this one."

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