Zero Carbon Efficiency
The homes in the community will be constructed of environmentally friendly materials according to plans that minimize both embodied energy and operating costs. By emphasizing super efficient insulative properties of the building envelope and incorporating thermal mass, Carbon Busters® has designed dwellings with space heating requirements that are only a fraction of that of standard modern residential construction. As a result, space heating needs can be met by using passive solar, solar thermal and geothermal technology in conjunction with wind-powered electrical heating. These leading edge design features will completely eliminate the need for natural gas connections.
The electrical consumption of the Carbon Busters homes will likewise be greatly reduced by means of super efficient lighting and appliances. Electricity needed to power the community will be supplied by a combination of photovoltaic panels and two wind turbines. The energy required by the buildings in this community will come from locally generated, renewable sources on a net-zero and energy plus basis. The system will be tied to the electrical grid so that power will be available even when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining, but most of the time the community will be exporting surplus power to the grid and receiving payments for it.
In many cases the transportation of the community residents will also be zero carbon. In addition to creating local job on-site, green buses will be used to tie into the regional transit system. Carbon Busters is supplying a free plug-in hybrid to each purchaser of a single detached home. Since residents will also have the option of supplementing their diet with locally grown produce from the community farm and local farmers, the carbon footprint of residents will be greatly reduced.
