For those looking to live a more sustainable life, Williamsburg just became more appealing.
The first Zero Energy Ready Home community in Virginia is opening next to Norge Elementary School, with one home already constructed and two others soon to be finished.
Jay Epstein, president and founder of Health-E-Community Enterprises of Virginia, said after August all 75 homes should be built most likely within two years.
According to the Department of Energy, a Zero Energy Ready Home is a home designed to be solar ready that meets rigorous requirements which create higher levels of energy savings, comfort, health and durability.
For the homes in Walnut Farm, that means a number of things.
The first is the homes have insulated 2-by-6 inch exterior walls, Epstein said. With normal homes, there is a wall with wood studs that transmits heat and cold but in the energy efficient home, there is a system that creates a thermal break at the exterior sheathing for added comfort, Epstein said.
Another factor that makes those homes different is each one is equipped with an energy recovery ventilator, which filters the air that residents are breathing and then exhausts the air leaving the house. For those with allergies, this can be especially helpful because it filters out the pollen coming into a home.
What makes this project the most different from others is the ability to add solar power after the home is constructed.
Previously, Epstein worked on a similar project in Richmond, The Village of Rocket’s Landing, where the energy-saving homes were mandated to have solar. Epstein said having it as a requirement can slow down sales and not give the homeowner a feeling of flexibility.
With Walnut Farms, residents have the ability to choose whether or not they want to install solar now or later because all of the homes are built to handle solar energy but can also function without it.
Part of the homes’ appeal: With the six-kilowatt solar panels installed, Epstein said there is a guarantee that a home’s utility bill will be no more than $1.50 a day.
Walnut Farm’s houses will each be assigned a specific identification number from the company Digibuilt, which creates new technology for homes. With the identification number, homeowners will be able to view a 3D model of their home which will allow them to see what’s behind the walls.
“Digibilt creates a digital ‘twin’ of your new home” Epstein said. “When your new home is complete, you will have a cloud-based record of everything in your home, including how it should be cared for and maintained.”
The development will be hosting an open house to showcase the new homes on Aug. 1, where visitors can look at the 12 different 2,050- to 3,298-square-foot models which range from $389,500 to $554,064. To offset the cost of the home, Epstein said homeowners will see notable savings through energy costs, with $18,000 over 20 years, or $38,000 over 20 years if they install solar panels.
One of the other unique aspects that guests will be able to learn about at the open house is the customization options for each home. While there are different specific models for each home, Epstein describes them as a set of Legos where homeowners can move their rooms around within the model for their desired home.
Epstein, who has a background in Build Science and Economics, said he is ready to see his life’s work come to fruition in the town where he lives and has raised his children. For the past four years, Epstein has won the Housing Innovation Award from the DOE and he plans to continue looking for new ways to create homes of the future.
“I’m not a young guy, I’ll be 68, but I still see the path to the future in the home industry and the millennium,” he said.
Walnut Farm’s open house and ribbon cutting will be from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 1 at 7375 Richmond Road.
