Zero-Energy Ready
How Does VerMod Get to Zero-Energy Ready?
Zero-Energy or Net-Zero Homes are homes that produce as much energy as they use. National and state building specifications outline insulation, air-tightness, and other performance requirements for builders to achieve Zero-Energy Ready and High Performance certifications. VerMod Homes are Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready and built to Efficiency Vermont’s High Performance 2.0 Specifications.
Our homes are built and equipped with the systems to achieve Zero-Energy. Solar panels need site access to produce the energy to offset usage and homeowner lifestyle determines the amount of energy used.
With a modest solar array, VerMod homes can achieve low and even no electric or heating costs. Here’s how we do it:
Densly Packed Insulation
The floors and walls are packed with about 3,000 pounds of insulation (R40-R43). The roof system is a 12 ¼” thick Structurally Insulated Panel (R60).
VerMod homes hold their heat.
Solar Panels
Solar panels can produce all the energy for a VerMod home. Electricity is sold back to the utility, so higher electric usage in the winter is offset by a credit for high solar production during the summer.
VerMod homes are built to achieve no electric or heating costs based on homeowner lifestyle and site conditions.
Sealed Joints & Cracks
Every joint and crack is tightly sealed during the construction process.
VerMod homes are airtight, keeping warmth in.
All-Electric HVAC Systems
All-electric HVAC systems incorporate efficient heat-pump technology for heating, cooling, and hot water, and all appliances and lighting are ENERGY STAR rated. This means no fossil fuels used in the home.
Homes are equipped with a Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV) which combines an air-source heat pump with a ventilation system that monitors CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in the air and adjusts the ventilation as needed.
All homes have an energy efficient cold climate heat pump (mini-split) and heat pump water heater. VerMod homes require very little electricity to operate.
Healthy
Enhance Your Well-Being
With high-quality materials and fresh air ventilation, VerMod homes are designed to enhance your family’s health and wellbeing.
High-quality materials reduce off-gassing:
- Formaldehyde-free products
- Hardwood cabinets and low-VOC countertop
- Low-VOC paints and finishes
- Hardwood flooring
- Sheetrock walls
Video: The Indoor Generation by VELUX
Fresh air ventilation maintains superior indoor air quality.
The CERV ventilation system works like a thermostat – it monitors indoor air quality and automatically delivers fresh air when levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exceed 1,000 ppm. Above this level, studies have shown notable decreases in mental performance, sleep quality, and productivity.
The CERV continuously circulates and filters indoor air to remove pollen, dust, and other contaminants. Built-in dehumidification ensures a dry indoor environment, preventing the growth of mold and mildew. People with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems breathe easier with clean indoor air.
Want to see the data for yourself?
Durable
Built With Quality Materials
All VerMod homes are built with quality materials and construction practices – from the foundation to the roof. With windows and doors that seal tightly and fixtures that last, a VerMod home will continue to provide you and your family with lasting value.
- Frost protected foundation
- Roof overhangs and moisture-tight construction
- Sheetrocked interior
- Premium windows and doors
- Hardwood cabinets with sturdy hardware
- Warrantied appliances
What’s the difference between a mobile, manufactured, and modular home?
Mobile
A mobile home is a factory-built home that was built before 1976 and not to any uniform construction code. Although this term is technically outdated, it is still so commonly used that the Vermont state government and many non-profits and businesses use “mobile home” and “manufactured home” interchangeably.
Manufactured
A manufactured home is any home factory-built to the HUD Title 6 construction standards, which took effect in 1976. The HUD code overrules any local and state building and energy codes, so it’s possible for the same manufactured home to be sold in Vermont, Virginia, and Nevada. Manufactured homes are built on a steel chassis but often never moved from their initial site.
Modular
A modular home is factory-built and meets all local and state building and energy-efficiency codes. Modular homes are typically transported to the site in one or more pieces on flatbed trailers and lifted into place with a crane. Although all modular homes meet local code, levels of durability and energy-efficiency vary between modular builders, just as they do with site-built homes.
All VerMod homes are built to suit the homebuyerʼs budget and aesthetic preferences. Contact us for pricing information. Design fees and pricing vary based on level of customization.
VERMOD PARTNERS
