A road map to cost-effective near zero energy buildings
To address this challenge, ZERO-PLUS shifted the focus away from a single home to building an entire nZEB settlement. This move allowed homeowners to reduce costs by creating economies of scale. Thus, they were able to implement such energy-efficient features as solar heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, rooftop power generation systems, and building energy management systems. The novel approach reduces initial construction costs by at least 16 % compared to conventional nZEBs, while also minimising life-cycle costs.