First Net Zero Energy Home Breaks Ground

A rendering shows the Jacobson residence design.

STANFORD, CA— BONE Structure has broken ground on its first net zero-energy project built in California.  It began assembly last week on a 3,200-square-foot home that will meet California’s 2020 Zero Net Energy new home building requirements. The home was commissioned by professor Mark Jacobson , the head of the atmosphere and energy program at Stanford University , to serve as his personal residence. While any architect can utilize the steel construction system in its design, Jacobson opted to have one of BONE Structure’s in-house architects design his new home. “After having looked at a lot of houses, I thought I could make the home more energy efficient and to my liking if I built it myself,” said Jacobson. “I looked into a couple of prefab companies to reduce waste and disruption on the jobsite. I selected BONE Structure because it allows for a custom design to make the most of my odd-shaped lot. The steel frame system allows for exciting design features that would not be possible using traditional building methods. Interior spaces and window lines can run up to 25 feet between columns.” BONE Structure homes can have large open plan interior spaces and double-height ceilings, allowing for natural light throughout, and future reconfiguration is simple, as needed. The home’s shell produces near zero waste, is made of 89% recycled steel and is 100% recyclable, seismically resilient and safe from damage by termites and mold. Jacobson tells Globest.com: “Watching the quick assembly of the steel frame of my new home is amazing, especially given the energy efficiency it will provide for future decades. By partnering a solar collection system with a Tesla Powerwall , I’m hoping to live net zero off the grid and make the home as sustainable as possible.” BONE Structure creates custom-built homes from columns and beams that are laser cut in a manufacturing plant and delivered to the site for assembly. A licensed assembly crew of five workers will assemble the shell of the home in days, each using battery-powered drill, and one type of self-tapping screw to secure the steel columns and beams in place. Electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems are easily connected, thanks to precut openings acting as highways within the structure. Precut insulation panels clip into place between the steel columns and polyurethane foam insulation is sprayed on the exterior that tightly seals the building and acts as a vapor barrier. Together, the steel structure, insulation panels, spray insulation and the roof create an energy-efficient envelope. “This is a great first project for BONE Structure in California and a perfect example of the benefits of our system,” said Charles Bovet , vice president of BONE Structure US.  “Stanford is an academically and environmentally focused community and a perfect location for our first net zero home.  Our shells are net zero ready, meaning they are extremely energy efficient and with the addition of a small solar system, they can produce more energy than they consume.” The Quebec, Canada-based company with US operations managed from San Francisco expects to build 50 new homes in California in 2016. The company is scaling up to produce 1,000 residences per year to address growing demand for this home construction technology, making it the only net zero-ready energy builder that can produce homes on a large scale.