Oct 3 2014
KB Home, one of the nation’s largest and most recognized homebuilders, continues its leadership in the important area of sustainability with the debut of its second Double ZeroHouse in California at its Fiora at Blackstone community in El Dorado Hills.
Leveraging its relationships with industry-innovators SunPower, Whirlpool Corporation and Ford, KB Home has upped the ante with its latest Double ZeroHouse 3.0, the first net-zero KB home with renewable energy generation and storage capabilities provided by SunPower; high-tech and energy-efficient products from Ford’s MyEnergi Lifestyle™ initiative; and a fully-integrated, network-connected home experience with resource-efficient, state-of-the-art appliances from Whirlpool Corporation.
Like KB Home’s previous ZeroHouse 2.0 models, the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora is designed to achieve net-zero energy usage — the result of a whole-home approach to first reduce the energy load of the home by incorporating advanced features and systems like increased insulation; upgraded HVAC units; high-performance windows; and LED lighting.
High-efficiency SunPower solar panels mounted to the roof are designed to serve the home’s total electricity demand with clean, renewable solar power. Notably, the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora is among the first KB homes also equipped with innovative energy storage solutions provided by SunPower. The advanced systems extend the solar system’s existing capabilities by storing excess solar power generated during the day for use in the event of a power outage.
The KB home earns its ‘Double’ ZeroHouse title through its dual emphasis on water as well as energy efficiency. The WaterSense® labeled house is equipped with an integrated home water and energy recycling system called the “eWater Recycler,” by Nexus eWater. Warm grey water, which studies have indicated may account for two out of every three gallons of indoor water, is normally treated as waste and sent straight to the sewer. The eWater Recycler recycles the energy in this warm water and treats the water on-site for reuse in non-potable applications. In the case of the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora, the eWater Recycler will supply recycled drainwater to all of the home’s toilets, meaning they will use zero freshwater in a household of four or more, and recycled energy to heat the home’s fresh water.
Combined with the home’s other water-conserving features — including a first-of-its-kind KitchenAid® Architect® Series II water-recycling dishwasher, WaterSense labeled fixtures, and a touchless kitchen faucet — KB Home estimates that the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora can conserve as much as 70% of the freshwater that would traditionally be used in a typical resale home.
“KB Home has a distinguished history of innovation in homebuilding, and it is an honor to work with these respected leaders of their industries in introducing our ‘smartest’ KB home built to date,” said Chris Apostolopoulos, president of KB Home’s Bay Area division and regional general manager. "Our Double ZeroHouse 3.0 demonstrates what is possible when like-minded companies come together with the shared goal of pioneering a more sustainable future — a ‘smarter’ home that is water smart, energy smart, and systems smart.”
In fact, the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora connects a host of smart home technologies into one intelligent ecosystem, enabling homeowners to control much of their home’s equipment from a smartphone or tablet. The ‘smarter’ Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora incorporates products from Ford’s pioneering MyEnergi Lifestyle™ initiative, including the Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. MyEnergi LifestyleTM shows how a typical American family can significantly reduce their electricity bills and CO2 footprint by integrating today’s smart home appliances, plug-in vehicles and solar energy by using Ford’s proprietary database of utility rates to perform tasks when electricity costs are lower. MyEnergi Lifestyle works by leveraging the cloud so key energy-consuming devices in a home use less energy, while also shifting energy usage to less expensive periods.
Part of the Double ZeroHouse 3.0’s comprehensive network of smart systems is its integration of Whirlpool® brand smart appliances. The Double ZeroHouse 3.0 features a Whirlpool® brand “Works with Nest” laundry pair that integrates with the Nest Learning Thermostat™. The laundry pair connects seamlessly with the Nest devices to leverage Nest’s Home and Away modes. Both the washer and dryer can keep clothes fresh if a cycle ends while the consumer is not at home. The dryer can also switch into a slightly longer, more energy-efficient cycle if the resident is away. In addition, the washer and dryer can automatically delay the start of a cycle during high-demand energy periods.
The Double ZeroHouse 3.0 employs zero-VOC paint, low-VOC carpeting, and formaldehyde-free insulation, which contain fewer toxins than their traditional counterparts, and help enhance the home’s indoor air quality. Additionally, an advanced ventilation system works around the clock at KB Home’s Double ZeroHouse 3.0 to continuously introduce fresh outdoor air and further improve the home’s indoor air environment.
With the inclusion of solar technology, together with the home’s other energy- and water-efficient elements, KB Home’s Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora provides an estimated energy and water savings of up to $4,500 annually compared to a typical resale home.
KB Home celebrated this significant milestone at a special event this morning in El Dorado Hills with officials from the State of California, El Dorado County, its trade partners, and students from Sacramento State University.
“The energy performance this home achieves is truly remarkable, and we commend KB Home for continuing to champion the use of clean, renewable energy and cutting-edge technologies to help meet California’s growing demand for highly-efficient homes,” said California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister, who was present at the ceremony.
“It is a pleasure to be able to join KB Home and its partners to unveil this incredibly resource-efficient home,” said California Energy Commissioner David Hochschild. “Renewability will play a critical role in California’s energy future, and thanks to forward-thinking companies like KB Home and those present today, we are one step closer to building a stronger, more sustainable California.”
All KB homes at Fiora, even those that are not at the Double ZeroHouse 3.0 standard, will be built to ENERGY STAR® certifications and WaterSense for New Homes criteria. KB Home’s Double ZeroHouse 3.0 at Fiora far exceeds WaterSense and ENERGY STAR efficiency standards, is Indoor airPLUS certified, and meets the Department of Energy’s rigorous Zero Energy Ready Home program’s requirements for energy savings, comfort, health, and durability.