What I Got Wrong Building My Net Zero Home.

I have some regrets. A few years ago, I set out to build my dream net zero energy home. I’ve been living here for a little over two years, and overall I’ve been very satisfied.

The home includes enough solar and battery storage to offset annual energy use, a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system, and extremely low operating costs.

It is the most comfortable and energy-efficient home I’ve ever lived in.

However, even the best-laid plans have issues. This project reveals what worked, what didn’t, and what I would change if I could do it again.

If you are planning a net zero home or want to avoid expensive mistakes, there are lessons here about real-world performance versus expectations.

Resources

Script and citations:
https://undecided.tech/what-i-got-wro...

Solar guide:
https://undecided.link/solar-guide

Podcast: Video version | Audio version

Discord:
https://undecided.link/discord

Patreon:
https://undecided.link/patreon

Energy tools: EnergySage (US) | EnergyPal (Canada)

Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:02 - Hot water situation
• 03:25 - Skipped infrastructure
• 06:27 - ERV problem
• 08:40 - Smart panels
• 10:19 - Thermal envelope decision
• 11:46 - Solar expansion
• 14:24 - Future-proofing with conduit