What is a zero-energy house?

Rising electricity and heating prices can be overwhelming. Therefore, more and more people are considering building a house that will be distinguished by reduced demand for electricity and heat. One of the types of structures that are taken into account are zero-energy houses. They are the basis for building an autonomous house. What is a zero-energy house and how much does it cost? You will find the answer in the article below!

Table of contents

• What is a zero-energy house?
• How to make a building zero-energy?
• How much does a zero-energy house cost?

What is a zero-energy house?

A zero-energy house is a response to the needs of greenhouse gas reduction and energy savings. To understand the concept well, it is worth first explaining two terms:

• Final Energy – This is the amount of energy used by a building that is provided by a supplier such as natural gas, coal, or biomass to ensure that the home is properly heated and functioning. An important feature of final energy is to take into account the losses that result from the transport and transmission of energy inside the building.
• Primary energy – is the sum of final energy and additional energy expenditures needed to produce it. This includes all stages of the energy production process, from the extraction of raw materials, through their processing, transport, to its delivery to the end user.

A zero-energy house, being an efficient energy solution, is characterized by zero primary energy consumption by balancing the consumption and production of energy needed to power the building. This means that such a building is able to generate enough energy to cover its own energy needs, which means that it does not require the supply of energy from external sources.

This is an extremely beneficial solution, both economically and ecologically, because it eliminates the need to use traditional, often inefficient energy sources and reduces the emission of harmful greenhouse gases.

How to make a building zero-energy?

The development of technologies related to renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels or solar collectors, makes zero-energy houses more and more accessible and attractive to a wide range of people. The growing environmental awareness of the public and the growing concern about climate change effectively support the development of this type of innovative construction solutions.

In order for a building to be zero-energy, it is necessary to eliminate all thermal bridges. This aspect should be taken care of already at the stage of designing the house. The best solution will be a building with a simple shape. As a result, there will be fewer places where the already mentioned thermal bridges, i.e. fragments through which heat escapes, can be formed.

A gable roof with a slope of 30-45° facing south is also an optimal solution. This is the best solution for a photovoltaic installation. Also, most of the windows should be located on the south or south-west wall. Then it will be possible to use most of the daylight.

In addition, in order not to actually consume energy, it must be equipped with an alternative, green energy source, i.e. photovoltaics or a wind turbine with a power generator that supports electric heating or a heat pump.

How much does a zero-energy house cost?

The need to equip with all energy-saving devices makes it possible to The cost of building a zero-energy house compared to a traditional building increases by about 20-30%.

So where is the profitability here? It may surprise you a bit, but building a zero-energy house – even despite the higher initial costs – pays off. By balancing energy consumption and production, the owners of such buildings can count on a significant reduction in fixed expenses related to the operation of the house.

Although the initial investment will be higher than in the case of traditional buildings, the long-term savings resulting from the lack of energy fees make it definitely worth it.

See also what a zero-emission house is.