Positive! Positive!

Ok, I'm done (for the moment) with major posts focused on how houses are bought and sold in the US with respect to energy efficiency.

The intent of this blog is to stay in the cup is half full sector. SOOOO

Here's a great link to a story about net zero (and better) houses being built in New England--NOW!

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/just-two-minisplits-heat-and-cool-whole-house?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=20120822-two-minisplits-heat-cool&utm_campaign=green-building-advisor-eletter

There's quite a bit of material in the article and links to the firm's website. Pretty amazing stuff and not in a mild climate by any stretch. Much of the technology is simple and could be adapted anywhere. 

How many people in your community can select from net zero homes when they decide to buy in a new subdivision, or even purchase a resale? If net zero houses were available, would they sell for a reasonable premium over "typical" houses? If not, why not? Should they sell for a premium at all? As long as energy efficiency in the existing housing stock is factored out of the decision process, Buyers and Seller are operating in the dark (perhaps literally in a few decades). Is that healthy environmentally and economically, given climate change? 

BTW European countries are building net zero homes in large numbers with some innovative technology. Some are better than net zero--electric cars can even recharge on the excess.