From the outside, you can tell there’s something different about the Bosch Net Zero Home at Serenbe. On the roof, shiny solar panels are in place to power the home and help meet a worthy goal: for a family of four to live in the home without incurring energy costs.
Savings are expected to run $200-$300 a month, says builder Mac McKinney of McKinney Custom Home Builders.
The chic country home, down the street from the HGTV Green Home, is open for free tours through July (11 a.m-7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays). After the tours, the three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home with 1,650 square feet will be placed on the market for $499,000.
Designer Jill Sharp Brinson, creative director for Ballard Designs, was inspired by stone, branches, bark, leaves and other natural elements.
“I spent an enormous time in the woods here and really just wanted to wrap that in and bring that inside. I had this idea of a rural gypsy in my mind, someone who had the benefit of traveling different places and choosing to come and be here and live in this cool farmhouse,” she said.
The savings accumulate this way: Energy use is measured by a net meter system on the power grid. The energy created by the house is subtracted from the energy used by the homeowner, which is expected to result in Net Zero energy consumption, or close to it.
Here are a few design highlights from the home, which also has Bosch appliances and TOTO plumbing and fixtures that are certified by the EPA’s WaterSense program.
Bosch photovoltaic solar panels: The panels power the home by using high efficient solar cells to transform ultraviolet rays into electrical energy. McKinney said when using solar panels, it is important to consider the orientation of the home, as the panels need to be placed in a southern or southwest direction.
Bosch geothermal heat pump: The heat pump taps into "naturally occurring energy" stored in the earth, as ground and water temperatures below the surface are fairly constant (starting at 65 degree temperatures). "When you're cooling, you're taking the cooling out of the ground and using that. That's very efficient," McKinney said. The heat pump has lower operating costs and is less noisy than a traditional system, according to Bosch.
Castle Combe hardwood floors from USFloors: The engineered hardwood floors, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, are made from managed forest resources. Brinson varied the pattern of the floor boards. "I always like to oppose floor boards because I think it makes it feel a little more authentic and a little more like the house has been there a while," she said.
Bosch Compress electric heat pump water heater: Heat and humidity from the surrounding air is used to heat the water. The pump also cools and dehumidifies the air in the home.
Five Things to See
Jill Sharp Brinson of Ballard Designs shares favorites from visitors who have visited the Bosch Net Zero Home at Serenbe.
1. Living space seating: Three wing chairs and benches offer an alternative to the traditional couch and sofa.
2. Reclaimed wood used in a variety of ways, such as framing the entry to the kitchen and as a mantle in the living room.
3. Oversized lighting in the combined living room/dining room/kitchen (she used the 10-light Cosette chandelier, spanning 42 inches).
4. Pair of rolling industrial carts with wood tops and steel legs, instead of the typical kitchen island.
5. Hanging sofa on the screened porch.
