What Is
Zero Energy Ready Home?
A U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home is a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Each DOE Zero Energy Ready Home meets rigorous efficiency and performance criteria found in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements. Most types of new homes in the U.S. are eligible to participate in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program, and the homes are verified by a qualified third-party as part of the certification process.
Designed to deliver truly best-in-class performance, homes that meet the Zero Energy Ready Home program requirements allow buyers to immediately recognize when a home has been certified through the rigorous efficiency and performance third-party verification process. The outcomes of that process mean homes include:
- Energy-efficient heating, cooling, appliances, plumbing, windows, and lighting, which leads to lower bills and better air quality
- Advanced insulation, air sealing, quiet window technology, and ENERGY STAR® appliances, fans, and lighting that create a quiet, comfortable environment
- High-performing building materials and products throughout the house that are proven to last.
What's Inside a
Zero Energy Ready Home?
Why Choose a
Zero Energy Ready Home?
Peace of Mind
Every Zero Energy Ready Home is fully inspected by multiple third-party, certified professionals. This means your home will meet and exceed the highest levels of performance—for everything from insulation to non-toxic paints.
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Better Living
What makes a Zero Energy Ready Home different?
- Air sealing to block dust, pollen, and pests.
- Construction materials with low or no chemical content.
- Water protection from roof to foundation minimizes moisture-related health problems and mold.
- Better indoor air quality
- …and the list goes on and on.
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Best in Class Technology
Zero Energy Ready Homes exceed current building codes across every element—and some technologies are decades ahead.
From high performance windows, to #energyefficient appliances, to EV-ready infrastructure, you and your wallet will notice the difference with a Zero Energy Ready Home.
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Health and Well-Being in a Zero Energy Ready Home
Americans spend about 90 percent of our days indoors, with some people spending as much of 70 percent of their time in their home. Comfort isn’t just a luxury, it is vital to our health, well-being, and productivity. Invisible forces in homes can erode that comfort, though, and even create safety issues within the home. Poor ventilation can lead to toxins in the air. Outdated insulation can make us too warm during hot summers or too cold during frigid winters. Aging water infrastructure can lead to mold or moisture buildup in areas of our homes that we can’t even see. A Zero Energy Ready Home has been independently evaluated to ensure it meets a comprehensive list of requirements. These include energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, appliances, windows, lighting, plumbing, and insulation; high-performing building materials and appliances that meet ENERGY STAR standards; and compatibility with the latest energy systems and technologies, making future home upgrades or modifications more hassle-free.
The Life Cycle of a Zero Energy Ready Home
A home is often the most important purchase of our lifetimes. Being sure about the quality of construction, how easily it can be equipped with modern or changing technologies, how resilient it is to climate and environmental factors, and other questions also make it one of the most stressful purchases. Those stresses can be reduced by purchasing a home that meets the rigorous standards created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes Program. Unlike older homes on the market and even many newly built homes, Zero Energy Ready Homes are subject to a thorough verification process by third-party experts who specialize in the latest residential building science and technologies.