Real Estate
NJ's First 'Zero-Energy' Home To Be Built In Barnegat: Developer
Zero-energy homes are designed to produce as much renewable energy as they consume in a year. Could it be the future of homebuilding?
![Walters, a build and architectural firm, will build a "zero energy" home in Barnegat.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/23182514/20200204/095143/styles/patch_image/public/barnegat-passive-house-rendering___04093123992.png)
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.
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"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.
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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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