Zero Energy Home groundbreaking in Montana Vista

Groundbreaking in about half an hour for the future Project Bravo Zero Energy Home, a model home for affordable and sustainable housing, at 14901 Whitetail Deer Drive. It's funded through a $149,212 HUD grant, and $2.3 million in American Recovery Act funding. 

The development team consists of Wright & Dalbin, El Paso Community College, Mr. Steve Cook, Senercon (Southwest Energy Construction), and Project BRAVO Inc.  The model home will also serve as the training grounds for EPCC’s Workforce Development Introduction to Construction Technology class.

Energy efficient features planned for this model home/office may include such features as solar cells or wind turbines for electricity, or solar collectors linked to seasonal thermal stores for space heating.

I wonder if I can get artists renderings on that project.

Rich Wright, for Wright & Dalbin Architects, Inc., writes that idea is that the house "will use no more energy than it produces on site, generating electricity with photovoltaic solar cells, and heating water through a combination of photovoltaic and passive solar techniques.

"The building's energy consumption will be reduced through Smart Building Technologies, including the application of Passive Climatic Design Principles.  Passive Climatic Design Principles include practical concepts like designing awnings to let sunlight warm the home in the winter, and shield the home's interior from direct sunlight in the summer, and orienting the building on site to allow the option to utilize the prevailing winds and daylight.

Also, a high performance thermal envelope will minimize heat transfer and maintain indoor temperatures.  

Other green strategies that will be employed in the construction of the home will be the use of regional and renewable materials, and materials with recycled content, thereby further reducing the building's carbon footprint.

The home will be ENERGY STAR rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Green rated by the National Association of Home Builders."