Introducing ZNE 2.0

Tampa ZeroHouse 2.0 backyard (source: KB Home)

One of the nation's leading homebuilders sees the future of ZNE, and they call it the ZeroHouse 2.0.

KB Home recently announced plans to rollout its next generation of energy-efficient home designs. ZeroHouse 2.0 is a ZNE Home with building features enhancing energy efficiency through a whole-home approach, including increased insulation, upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, dual-pane, low-emittance windows and solar panels on the roof. Model homes have opened in Tampa, Fla., San Antonio, Texas, and Austin, Texas. The homebuilder plans to go national in 2012.

The company says that while a new ENERGY STAR-qualified house may save homeowners an average of $1,000 annually on their energy utility costs, a ZeroHouse 2.0 may eliminate monthly electricity charges entirely.

Barbie's New Eco-Friendly Dream Home

The winning entry in AIA's Barbie Dream House competition (source: FastCoDesign)

Barbie has a new dream home and this one's eco-friendly fabulous. Equipped with a green house, solar panels on the roof, Energy Star appliances and locally sourced and manufactured materials, Barbie's new dream home would make the U.S. Green Building Council proud.

The house was designed as part of the American Institute of Architects' Barbie Dream House competition, designed to inspire young girls to experience the world of architecture and the range of possibilities that design thinking offers. The winning entry was submitted by recent Harvard master's grads who believe that Barbie should uphold the "principles set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council while staying true to all the needs of a classic California girl."

Mattel won't actually be producing the house, but maybe it will inspire other architects to create their own, real-life eco-friendly dream homes.

Read more about the winning Barbie Dream House here. 

NYC to Get Its First ZNE Building

(image courtesy Solar One)

The New York City Council recently awarded $1.25 million to the construction of the City's first zero net energy and zero net water building. Dubbed Solar 2, the building will allow NYC nonprofit, Solar One to expand its energy efficiency and renewable energy public programs.

Specifically, the building will house cutting-edge environment exhibits and public activities, and provide classroom space and learning tools for Solar One's K-12 environmental education programs.

The 13,000-square-foot building will accomplish ZNE water and energy use through the use of such features as geothermal heating, a water reclamation system, New York's first outdoor Green Theater with a solar-powered stage, and a green roof and vegetative green screen to reduce heating and cooling in the building.

Transparent walls and cutaways will give visitors a glimpse of the "insides" of the building and its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Learn more about this innovative building in NYC here.