Demonstration of Affordable, Comfortable, Grid Integrated Zero Net Energy Communities

Project Result

The project is completed and the final report is available on the CEC website. The project demonstrated cost competitive ZNE design strategies solutions to create a new pathways for residential ZNE communities.

The project involved collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to understand opportunities and challenges for scaling up solutions that enable zero net energy communities in California. Energy consumption, carbon impacts, and energy bills were all analyzed through data collected from the project sites, including customer and occupant perceptions. The main results of this effort are summarized below:
Construction:
o Zero net energy communities are technically feasible and can be built at cost parity – potentially even more cost competitive than dual fuel alternatives.
o Available construction trades and trade acceptance (critical for adoption) were limited – proper workforce development and training are still needed.

Homebuyer and Renter Perceptions:
o Zero net energy communities provide features that appeal to homebuyers and renters.
o Non-energy factors are still main drivers of overall homebuyer and renter decisions. o Education on costs and benefits of zero net energy communities and building electrification technologies could help drive stronger market pull for these communities.

Data Analysis from Operational Data from Zero Net Energy Communities:
While, in general, the deployment of advanced electrification technologies when deployed as a “zero net energy system” shows overall bill savings compared to a dualfuel California home, there are instances where electrification could have negative impacts on the occupant or whomever pays for the energy bill. It is important to continue to gather operational data to better help stakeholders understand what technologies and features of community development are impacting energy consumption. Tighter coordination is needed to improve design, planning, and interconnecting distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar and storage. Rate structures need to be assessed so that unintended energy burden is not placed on disadvantaged communities in California’s transition to electrification.