EEBA Academy

This 1924 Colonial home had fallen into severe disrepair before coming up for sale. As part of the muchneeded renovation, the new homeowners (two Steven Winter Associates, Inc. employees) wanted to eliminate onsite combustion and produce as much of their operating electricity as possible. Other goals included lower embodied energy materials and a healthy indoor environment. LEED v4.1 for Homes offered one platform to address energy, health, and materials. The home was gutted down to the foundation, framing, and floors before the year-long renovation. After the first 8 months of occupancy (July-February), the home produced 14% more energy than it consumed.

Residential energy is changing quickly with new mandates, greater demand for electricity and an aging infrastructure. Home builders today are meeting these challenges in new ways to build homes of the future today. With new strategies and solutions, home builders are building not just smart homes, but homes with smart, sustainable, resilient energy.

The Ultimate Z.E.N. Home is designed to set a new standard for health in the home. Learn about EPA Indoor airPLUS and how the Ultimate Z.E.N. Home builds on this foundation to address COVID, with whole house HEPA filtration and optimum humidity to shorten the life of the pathogen on surfaces.

Energy, climate, materials, and health: What is the connection? And why is it important? Insulation and air sealing are two cost-effective ways to increase the energy efficiency of a home. However, the chemicals that are found in some of these products or used during their production can negatively impact the health of the people who manufacture and install products, as well as those who ultimately live in these buildings. We need a better system of policies and regulations that are protective of human health, but for now, we need professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about the materials they use. Building professionals who specify and install materials have the opportunity to make significant impacts on health and the environment by choosing healthier materials.