The Home Of The Future Needs The Right Wall System

California has an ambitious goal of building only new houses that are Zero Net Energy (ZNE), meaning they do not use any external electricity sources. Instead, the house itself generates it through renewable sources like solar.

Since 2012, there have been 700% more ZNE buildings and houses nationwide, thanks in part to the builders who are specializing in such construction and making it easy for environmentally-conscious owners to do their bit in reducing emissions. A striking trend is also residential sites that are increasingly adopting this trend. In the past, it would have meant a significant investment on the part of the homeowner to install solar panels, but fortunately, times have changed.

The Right Wall System & Making A House Zero Net Energy

Beyond just transitioning to 100% renewable energy for your home, there are other ways to make sure your home is as green as it can be. One of them is to construct the house’s frame using recycled steel, which is stable, long-lasting, and friendly to the environment.

Most of these houses have their own solar panels, but one of the most important advances is the ability to store the energy they capture. Thanks to large batteries, like the ones produced by Tesla, homeowners can save the energy they do not need for later use or even to be sold back to the electric company. This makes it truly possible for you to live without any emissions at all. In fact, these new houses do not even have a natural gas line leading to them.

The Role Of The Right Wall Systems In Building A ZNE Home

An important part of a ZNE house is the construction of the house itself that allows the owner to conserve energy (and thus, reducing use). Because California has warm summers and in some areas, cooler winters, homeowners need to either cool or heat the place.

Normal construction practices, in reality, are not very energy-efficient because of the amount of energy they tend to lose. Depending on the age of the building and how it was constructed, houses lose the cool or warm air generated by the HVAC system. On average, the amount lost is about 40%.

A ZNE house has a much lower amount than this. Meaning homeowners see up to 90% reduction in their HVAC expenses, simply because they do not need to cool or heat more to compensate for what gets lost.

The secret to this is using spray polyurethane foam insulation to especially protect the parts of the wall where air leakage occurs. In doing so, the walls become tightly sealed and the heated or cooled air stays inside. The same spray foam is used below the roof deck and all wall and joint connections.

Another advantage of investing in an airtight home is the better air quality due to pollution and allergens being kept outside. Plus, there is less outside noise heard inside the house, and the rooms themselves become more soundproof so that you do not hear the loud music being played in another room.

Most of the time, the role of the wall systems in achieving an energy-efficient house is overlooked. Interestingly, adopting the right products like a spray polyurethane foam insulation can truly make a huge dent in your heating and cooling costs.

Contact Extreme Epoxy Coatings today for a free quote for all your wall system needs in California!