The NHSaves® utility partners—Eversource, Liberty, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, and Unitil—are excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Drive to Net Zero Home Competition. This annual competition highlights the best in energy-efficient home building, showcasing innovative designs that prioritize sustainability, cost savings, and long-term comfort for New Hampshire homeowners.
Recognizing Excellence in Energy Efficiency
The Drive to Net Zero Home Competition challenges homeowners and builders to create homes that generate as much energy as they consume. By incorporating cutting-edge technologies and thoughtful design, this year’s winners have set new benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability.
A key scoring factor for all eligible competition participants is a home’s Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index score, a numerical rating that measures a home’s energy efficiency compared to a standard home, with a lower score indicating a more energy-efficient home. HERS is widely considered as the industry standard for evaluating a home’s energy performance.
Get to know the 2024 winners below:
Jeremiah and Andrea Beck, Gilford, NH
Builder: Chris Renaud, CPR Home Restoration
HERS Rater: Bruce Bennett, GDS Associates
Home Highlights: The Becks’ 5,471-square-foot home features insulated concrete forms, a geothermal heat pump, and a 17-kW solar array. Future-proofed with electric vehicle charging capabilities and potential energy storage, their home achieved an impressive HERS® Index score of -2, making it a net-positive energy home—producing more energy than it consumes.
Michelle and Nate Folan, Mont Vernon, NH
Builder: John Slater, Energy Vision Homes, LLC
HERS Rater: Samuel Kenney, Advanced Building Analysis
Home Highlights: The Folans’ post-and-beam home features air source heat pumps, a whole-house energy recovery ventilator, and on-site solar energy. Designed for efficiency and family living, the home scored a remarkable -9 on the HERS Index, further surpassing net zero standards.
John and Maggie Randolph, Dover, NH – Tiny Homes
Builder: John and Maggie Randolph
HERS Rater: Bruce Bennett, GDS Associates
Home Highlights: Focused on affordable, energy-efficient housing for employees at Harmony Homes in Dover, the Randolphs built a community of tiny homes. Each home, scoring between 45-49 on the HERS Index, is fully electric and features LED lighting, air source heat pump mini-split units, and spray foam insulation for optimal energy savings.
Building a Sustainable Future
The Drive to Net Zero Home Competition continues to inspire homeowners and builders to push the boundaries of energy efficiency, all the while connecting individuals and trade allies to the resources needed – with the help of the utility partners – to help make their sustainable home dreams a reality.
If you’re building or planning a high-performance home in New Hampshire, the NHSaves utility partners can help you make it happen. View the full stories from this year’s winners, learn more about the Drive to Net Zero Home competition, and get help maximizing your savings through our New Home Construction Program.