California zero energy house is the greenest green

Zero Energy House concept is implemented with the following features:

Photovoltaic panels perchen on the roof
Special insulation poured into the foundation
Recycled wood products in framing
Windows, appliances and water heater are all energy efficient
Roof has been coated with material to reflect sun's rays
Fluorescent lights and fans
Cellulose insulation blown into the walls

Pleasanton, Dublin and Hayward CA are forerunners in formalizing green guidelines in their building codes. Other examples of this community support of energy codes include Boulder, CO and Austin, TX.

The builder, Centex, partnered with the Alameda County Solid Waste Management Authority to develop green building guidelines for use in all new home construction. And an energy consulting and engineering company provided federal and state grants as well as expertise to help direct construction to meet zero-net energy building processes.

Installing solar panels is a chicken and egg proposition -- if builders don't offer the service, consumers aren't going to buy it. And if consumers are willing to pay upfront for the solar installation and recoup their savings on the backend, builders aren't going to offer the service.

This gap of early innovation adoption is faced by all industries and governments and nonprofit groups can help step into this gap to make the expertise available through conferences and guidelines -- and make grants available to help with early adoption projects and help lower costs.

Other builders involved in developing the guidelines were Pulte Homes,
Silverwood Homes, Greenbriar Homes, Toll Brothers, Signature Properties
and Ponderosa Homes.