Within the first few years of the program, Palo Duro Homes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has built more certified U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes than any other builder in the country.

This zero energy home will produce nearly as much energy as it uses in a year, costing its homeowners just a few dollars a month to heat and cool.

Proper grading of the site for drainage is an important first step when preparing to build durable, high-performance homes.

After pouring the foundation footings, energy-saving slab edge insulation is installed between the foundation wall and the slab. Radon vent piping is installed along the inside perimeter for health protection.

Every Palo Duro home now meets the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home criteria, which also includes ENERGY STAR and EPA’s Indoor airPLUS certification. Beyond these requirements, all homes also meet EPA WaterSense criteria.

This home employs high-efficiency advanced wall framing with 2-by-6 studs spaced 24 rather than 16 inches apart, 2-stud rather than 3-stud corners, open headers over windows, and other techniques to reduce the amount of lumber used while creating more space for insulation.

Palo Duro (operating under its original name Artistic Homes) was the first production builder in the country to offer a net zero energy upgrade on every home it builds, an option that Palo Duro continues to offer. To make that offer, the builder starts with a high-efficiency enclosure that contributes to Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores of 48 to 58 on all of its homes before a solar electric system is added.

An interior comfort delivery system locates all of the heating and cooling ducts inside the conditioned space in dropped soffits in hallways and other central locations to minimize duct length, reduce heat loss and improve system air flow. A high-efficiency heat pump completes the comfort system.

Comprehensive draft protection is provided by caulking every construction seam and penetration. The high-efficiency insulation system includes R-22 blown fiberglass insulation in the wall and R-50 blown fiberglass in the attic ceiling.