Net-zero homes—those that make as much energy as they put out—may cost more up front to build, but they can save homeowners money on their energy bills. Eventually, that savings adds up and the home can pay for itself, no matter where you live, a new study shows.
Net-zero energy homes usually are outfitted with rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient insulation, triple-pane windows, energy-savvy appliances, LED lighting, and smart thermostats. Builders will take the home’s design and natural lighting into account too, such as the position of windows and overhangs that could supply additional solar heating in the winter or shade in the summer months.
The Rocky Mountain Institute, a research nonprofit focusing on clean energy, looked at how long it takes for the savings on a net-zero home to cover the initial costs of a 2,200-square-foot home in the 30 largest U.S. cities. Here are the top cities where you can pay off a net-zero home in the fastest amount of time:
- San Francisco: 7.8 years
- Detroit: 9.1 years
- Baltimore: 9.2 years
- Columbus, Ohio: 9.7 years
- New York: 10.1 years
- Phoenix: 10.7 years
- Jacksonville, Fla.: 10.9 years
- Los Angeles: 11 years
- Washington, D.C.: 11 years
- Chicago: 11.4 years
- Sacramento, Calif.: 11.7 years
- Indianapolis: 12.3 years
- Portland, Ore.: 12.3 years
- Seattle: 12.4 years
- Dallas: 12.5 years
- Oakland, Calif.: 12.5 years
- Wichita, Kan.: 12.5 years
Source:
“Net-Zero Energy Homes Pay Off Faster Than You Think—Even in Chilly Midwest,” InsideClimate News (Dec. 10, 2018) and “The Economics of Zero-Energy Homes,” Rocky Mountain Institute