TUCSON, AZ — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) joined a groundbreaking ceremony for one of the nation’s first zero energy homes (ZEH). The home is being built by a local builder, John Wesley Miller, who will open the Tucson-area construction site to members of the building industry, the media, and the general public. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center will be conducting the evaluation of the performance of the home.

According to the DOE, a zero energy home combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available, renewable energy systems. With its reduced energy needs and solar energy systems, a ZEH can return as much energy as it takes from the utility grid on an annual basis.

The ZEH is part of a national initiative that is funded by the DOE through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO. The primary goal of the initiative is to introduce the ZEH concept into the mainstream home building industry.