Our Success Stories
Zero Energy Now is dedicated to creating a brighter future through the reduction of fossil fuels. Starting in Vermont, we've already made a huge difference!
Caledonia County Cape
Caledonia Cape
Goal of Project
A classic Northeast Kingdom village farmhouse, this home underwent a substantial, but relatively low-budget remodel, allowing for a major envelope upgrade. A combination of heat pumps and a pellet stove should heat the place effectively, although the solar array, limited by the size of an available rooftop, only covers 60% of the electric load. Resourcefulness of the homeowner, and superb leverage of incentives made this project exceptionally affordable.
Chittenden County Ranch
Goal of Project
This small and straightforward ranch house had significant weatherization opportunities — especially in the basement and the attic, and a high enough heating load to qualify for the Vermont Gas (VGS) weatherization incentive program. Opting to do away with fossil fuels altogether, the owners “cut the pipe” and replaced their aging gas furnace with a centrally ducted heat pump system, and a gas fireplace insert with a cord wood stove insert. They also electrified and upgraded many of their appliances – a heat pump water heater, a heat pump dryer, and a new washer. A 4.9 kilowatt solar array and a little over 2/3 of a cord of wood makes their energy level 84% renewable. As they were able to complete the project without financing, they could begin immediately enjoying almost $1000 a year in savings – all of which could have been applied to financing without increasing their out of pocket costs! The option remains in the future to install another 4.2 kilowatts of solar on their roof to bring their renewable portfolio to 100%.
Chittenden County
Chittenden County
Chittenden County Chalet
Goal of Project
As part of a gut remodel, the homeowners wished to take the Zero Energy Now concept as far as they could. They replaced a central oil furnace with three heat pumps on each level of their three story, two unit house. They had completed substantial weatherization improvements in previous projects, and the bulk of the work was in the basement level. Because they had had significant under-slab plumbing issues, removal of the existing slab was required, which provided an opportunity to insulate the entire basement – down to the concrete block foundation and under the slab. A 48 panel solar array will provide enough energy for heat, two water heaters, and two cars – one fully electric and one a plug-in hybrid. Although an expensive project, when rolled into a 30 year mortgage, post-project cash flow is only slightly higher than pre-project energy costs, and much less than the previous monthly cost of fueling their vehicles!
Windham County Mansard
Goal of Project
This project was undertaken as soon as the house was purchased, and was essentially a do-it-yourself deep energy retrofit. The house was very poorly insulated and the heating system was non functioning when it was purchased, but with careful guidance and support from contractors, the new homeowners turned out a very successful project. After their first full post-project year, they report, “We have no other heat source in our home besides three heat pumps, and our solar panels are annually producing all the electricity we use for all our household needs including heating, cooling, and charging our electric Chevy Bolt.”
Windham County
Windham County
Windham County Victorian
Goal of Project
A classic urban home in a mill town, this house, with the multiple planes and angles of a Victorian, has multiple opportunities for envelope improvements – none of them easy or inexpensive. As part of an expansion of living space into the attic, it made sense to focus on the top of the house, as well as the accessible basement – achieving, with some judicious air sealing, a remarkable 43% reduction in the heating load! Uncertain about the capacities of point-source heat pumps to heat such a broken up space, and wishing to take advantage of significant incentives, the owners opted to install a pellet furnace, which covers the entire heating load. Lacking a site or a roof for solar on their property, they purchased shares in a community solar array. The available solar will cover a substantial portion, but not all, of their electric load. Income based incentives, plus the willingness of the homeowner to complete some air-sealing measures himself, helped to keep costs of this project low.