And what does Net Zero even mean?

A Net Zero house is one that generates the same amount of energy it consumes, through renewable sources like sun, wind or water. For example, at Clarum Homes, we can tile the roof with solar panels, so your home converts sunlight into electricity. When able to produce all the energy it uses per year on-site, it’s Net Zero.

As such, the Net Zero homes we build don’t have to be connected to the grid But that doesn’t mean they can’t be.

On or Off?

There are benefits to being connected. When on-site energy is abundant, you can harvest the excess and sell it to the city. Your link to the grid becomes a channel to export the surplus. This means that on sunny days, a Net Zero home can actually earn an income – helping to pay its own bills!

Of course, there are times of scarcity too. When sunlight isn’t as abundant, you can supplement the energy you need by buying it back from the grid – and still be Net Zero.

Rule of thumb: as long as the total amount of energy you sell per year equals the total amount you buy, your house is Net Zero – whether you do rely on electricity from the grid at times, or not.

The Difference is in the Bank

Simply put, the difference between on- and off-grid Net Zero homes comes to this: where do you get your energy when your home isn’t producing all that it needs?

Our on-grid homes use the grid as an energy bank to balance the seasonal fluctuations in supply: selling energy when it’s abundant, buying it back when scarce.

Our off-grid homes come equipped with their own bank: an on-site battery to serve the same purpose.

In short, there are options. We can design you a Net Zero home either on or off the grid. To learn more, please call us at 650.322.7069