“I really can’t think of a reason not to do it. The math just makes it clear.” – Don Powers

On the 40th season of This Old House (episodes 10 & 12), Vivint Solar had the opportunity to participate in Don and Dana Powers’ journey to redefine their lives — a process that required them to change not just where they lived, but how. For the Powers family, reducing their impact on the environment and saving money with solar was worth the effort to become net-zero.

A “net-zero” home uses only as much energy as it produces, which means that the people in the house can enjoy all the energy they need without having a negative impact on the environment. For many, going net-zero is an ideal rather than something that’s realistically achievable. As an architect of his own firm, Don advocates the importance of communities built on responsible and sustainable practices. He decided to demonstrate just how easily net-zero can be achieved, and the first step was to find their new home.

Picking their dream location wasn’t difficult. For years, they enjoyed a beach house in Jamestown, Rhode Island where they spent weekends by the ocean. They decided they wanted it to be more than a vacation spot, so they began shopping for a net-zero worthy house in the area. Luckily, Don’s years of architectural experience opened up a lot of possibilities.

They found a one-hundred-year-old cottage in need of extensive renovations, which was the perfect canvas for Don’s talents. They made an offer and bought the home, but it wasn’t net-zero ready.

There are three important steps to living a net-zero life.

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https://www.vivintsolar.com/learning-center/how-to-build-your-net-zero-house-with-solar