The Beauty of Zero

Experience

Contributed by Hord Coplan Macht

As the designers, builders, and operators of the built environment, we strive to create an experience that elevates life and allows all occupants to breathe clean and healthy air, feel comfortable in their skin, have access to the conveniences of modern life, and afford the living environment that they want to experience each day as they wake up.

Net-zero energy buildings offer the opportunity to create a new experience of urban living; an experience that is closer to our true nature and in harmony with our needs. The human habitat is an experience of our own design and we deserve to make it extraordinary.

Our vision for a Net-zero energy future is an experience that elevates the quality of life for all people.

The Net-Zero Energy Lifestyle

Contributed by SYMBI HOMES, Sustainable Design Group, and Peabody | Fine Architects



Beautiful
It is beautiful when buildings marry their form and function to delight the human spirit. Homes that use net-zero energy each year also elicit a feeling of harmony with nature for its occupants. The forms of net-zero energy homes are seen here in harmony with their high performing functions. The beauty brought in by natural light and natural patterns and textures compliment the beauty of feeling at peace in your carbon-free  lifestyle.



Affordable
Housing costs are typically our largest monthly expenses. Paying for utilities, maintenance, and upgrades on a home can feel like throwing your money into a bottomless pit. It's time to stop letting our buildings depreciate. Let's invest in our homes and improve their value in ways that reduce operational costs. Let's look at the long-term life cycle of financing real estate assets. Net-zero energy homes create sustainable economics.



Healthy
It's stressful to know that our buildings sometimes make us sick. Our homes impact more than just physical health; they can provide emotional fulfillment and mental peace, offering a greater sense of wellness. We can expect more from our architecture than we have historically—all buildings should enliven the human spirit . Designers of net-zero energy building seek to do no harm to nature and human health.



Comfortable
Comfort is a personal experience; a psychological state where your body feels in harmony with its surroundings. There are seven variables that lead to thermal comfort and net-zero energy buildings improve more of them than traditional design and engineering strategies even consider on most buildings. Let's ask for more than drafty windows and overheated upstairs—we deserve better and net-zero energy buildings can deliver.



Quality
Higher quality homes are envisioned, designed, built and used with more care, concern and attention to detail. They are designed with a passion to ‘get it right’. The results improve the critical qualities of environmental sustainability, social equity and economic prosperity. We believe net-zero energy buildings are higher quality products in all these categories. What quality of life do you want to live? If carbon free living is a quality you value we have the homes for you.



Resilient
Our homes protect us from the harsh and increasingly volatile environmental conditions around us. Safe from the dangers of extreme weather, wild beasts or bad actors, our home is a sanctuary. One that is resilient, robust and durable against threats to our peace of mind as we fall asleep and raise up our kids in our homes. Net-zero energy buildings are both inherently and intentionally more resilient now and for the unforeseeable future.

Net-Zero Timeline

Biophilia + Zero

Case Studies

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