I recently had the opportunity to meet two amazing people who have accomplished quite a bit when it comes to creating sustainability in residential and commercial properties. Ron and Tammy Schwolsky are the real deal and may I add lovely people! I came to know this couple when I learned of a project called Zenergy House. The Zenergy House project was developed as a guide to greening existing homes. It’s is all about creating a healthier home that is more durable, more energy efficient, and more respectful of the environment.

A zero energy house or zero-energy building (ZEB) is one that generates energy provided by on-site Renewable energy sources that are equal to the amount of energy used by the building. So if you could achieve a zero-energy building you would never use power from the grid, which means you would need a very good battery system to store energy captured during the day for energy use in the evening.The next best thing is net-zero energy and this means that although you may be using power from the grid at night (when there is no sun for your pv- Solar photovoltaic) the amount that you generate during the day is typically more than you use (the meter will spin backwards when you are generating power) and the rest goes back into the grid– give some, take some –at the end of the day your at net-zero energy. “This kind of home is healthier, more durable, and absolutely essential for saving large amounts of energy and effectively curbing climate change”, say the Schwolsky’s. I have now learned the difference between a “Green” house verses a “Zero-energy” or “Net-Zero energy” house. A green home may be certified green but this does not mean that it has an emphasize on zeroing the usage of energy. Don’t get me wrong, a “Green” home is great and it uses less water, energy, materials, and provides better indoor air quality but does not have an emphasis on zero-energy. So what I now understand is that both are important and should be a combined effort when building or renovating a home or commercial property.

The Zenergy House was created to implement the expertise known by the Schwolsky’s. Not only have they created this project but also they are the founders of REAS (Residential Energy Assessment Services). This is where I get even more impressed! The list of services that they provide is extensive and they have the knowledge to go with it. They provide Comprehensive Energy Audits, Energy Efficiency Retrofits and Green Remolding. They are  HERS, LEED, and GreenPoint Rated Certified. Why stop there? They offer Eco-Broker Real Estate and Green Financing Programs. This is what I call one-stop servicing!!! I think the most important point is that they are trustworthy, reliable and the most pleasant people you ever want to meet.

The Zenergy House, located in Studio City, CA, is a one-story home with 2450 sq ft of living space. It was built in 1950 and has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. This prototype is a whole house remodel and was created to show the benefits of a high performance home. This includes improved health, safety, comfort and the ability to protect property values from rapidly escalating energy costs. You can take a peek here at what the property looks like:

When the project is complete they will host open home tours. The mission is to help homeowners recognize what truly determines a green home and to provide a roadmap for creating our own Zenergy House!! I took a sneak peek just before the Holidays. It’s a beautiful home and has inspired me to strive for zero-energy in my home. Stay tuned for more information on when the tours will begin.

In the near future REAS, Inc. will offer training curriculum for emerging green job markets.

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Disclosure: All Green Things is a Zenergy House Sponsor

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