Net Zero

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created a smart home with Net Zero energy consumption (1). The two-story, four-bedroom, three-bath Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility incorporates energy-efficient construction and appliances, as well as energy-generating technologies such as solar water heating and solar photovoltaic systems. Designed by the Department of Energy (DOE), this represents a step forward in the next generation of self-sufficient home, that is overdue.

It is unclear why it took this long. Underlying technology for such a smart home existed for over a decade. The cost of production of photovoltaic systems trends down with scale. Incorrectly designed subsidies by overactive energy hawks – some preferring toxic fumes and others electing to create inefficient fuels such as Ethanol, have kept a cap on true innovations in this area. Production, control and use of energy can be maximized by algorithms, smart enough to learn and manage, As dumb politicians walk all over each other looking for fossil fuels in every crevice on Earth, they have taken the eye off the prize.

Perhaps, we are getting closer to intelligent designs of homes, clothing & food with net zero cost to society.

(1) Home sweet lab: Computerized house to generate as much energy as it uses. Published: Thursday, September 13, 2012 - 16:05 in Physics & Chemistry