Step Inside America’s First Certified ‘Zero-Emission’ Home

Photo byWojciechowski Family

This past summer, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) introduced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building to support reducing building carbon emissions, accounting for over one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative also seeks to promote clean energy solutions and drive innovation while addressing the climate crisis. Along with these standards, the administration also set out to make it more feasible for property owners to curb their emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offered financial incentives such as tax breaks and rebates to homeowners who make their homes more energy-efficient. 

Photo byWojciechowski Family

Enter the Wojciechowski family, who are now the first in the country to have received a 'zero emissions' certified home. This certification, granted by the third-party firm Pearl Certification, means that the house is free of onsite emissions from energy use and is powered solely by clean energy. The family moved into their newly built home in Williamsburg, Virginia, in August of last year. The house, which measures 5,800 square feet and costs $1.1 million, is fully powered by renewable energy through its use of solar panels and its participation in a green energy program. The excess energy that the home's solar panels produce goes back into the energy grid, which then provides substantial savings on their utility expenses compared with other homes. 

Photo byWojciechowski Family

When planning their forever home, the Wojciechowskis were dedicated to making it sustainable and eco-friendly. Morgan Wojciechowski, the president of Healthy Communities, a local real-estate developer focused on constructing efficient and sustainable homes, shared her insights in an interview with CNBC.

Photo byWojciechowski Family

She offered advice for homeowners looking to make their homes more energy efficient, emphasizing the significant savings on energy costs that can be achieved through simple and accessible improvements such as upgrading windows or doors and enhancing their current insulation. The addition of solar panels to their home has greatly impacted their savings, with their utility bills projected to be about $917 a year or around $80 a month.

Photo byWojciechowski Family

Photo byWojciechowski Family

The Wojciechowski family is a testament to the growing movement toward sustainable living. Their experience highlights the benefits of embracing energy-efficient practices and the significant role that innovative policies and financial incentives play in making such choices accessible to more families. Homeowners can contribute to a more substantial effort to combat climate change by prioritizing sustainability and actively participating in clean energy initiatives.