Net Zero Energy Homes Part #1

I met with some potential clients this weekend who are interested in building a Net Zero Energy Home.
A Net Zero Energy Home is a home that is built using extremely energy-efficent construction techniques and utilizes solar, wind, and other equipment that returns energy to the power grid to meet your yearly annual energy needs.

A federal law was passed in 1991 which requires utility companies to allow consumers to put energy into the pwer grid and then use it again later (e.g. "Net Energy"). In Minnesota the state legsilature passed a law that requires utility companies to pay consumers the retail price of the elctricity at the time is goes in the grid. If you put the energy into the grid during the day when electricity is at a premium and then buy it back in the evening when you are home from work, you can actually purchase more power at the same net price.  The goal at the end of the year is to pay a energy bill of zero (e.g. Net Zero Energy Bills), not to be confused with a Net Zero Energy Home. A Net Zero Energy Home actually produces the amount of energy it will use over the course of a year.