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An opportunity exists to lower the utility bill cost burden to low-income families by raising awareness and building a viable financial model for Zero Energy New Homes.

The burden energy bills present to low-income families in the United States is often staggeringly heavy. Families significantly below the poverty level have been shown to spend as much as 19% of their income on utility bills, while in some areas of the United States as many as a quarter of evictions of low-income renters were due to inability to pay utility bills.

According to the California Energy Commission (CEC) approximately half of new multifamily affordable housing units constructed each year are energy efficient enough to qualify for Energy Star certification. Further, the CEC estimates only 2% of affordable housing developers integrate renewable energy features into their projects. Low energy efficiency and low use of renewable energy in affordable housing projects stems from a lack of awareness and viable financial models with which to implement these measures.

With funding from the CEC, Global Green and affordable housing developers are building zero-energy affordable housing units with off-the-shelf technology and a robust financial model that will be replicable by other developers nationwide.