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Countdown to Net Zero
On June 30, 2014, the Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility will complete a test to demonstrate that the house can produce at least as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
The house produces energy through photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. Energy efficient construction techniques, appliances and solar water heating limit the amount of energy the house requires.
We'll update this page every weekday until June 30 to count down the energy bill—we're aiming for zero—and to see if the house generates more energy than it consumes.
(All cost calculations are based on the Maryland average of 12.84 cents per kilowatt hour in 2012, as reported by DOE.)
A negative number means the house has used more kilowatt hours of energy than it has produced. A positive number means we have a surplus—and a zero energy bill for the year!
Related story: Countdown to Net Zero: NIST Test House Pursues Energy Surplus in Final Month