LifeStyle Homes built this 4,766-square-foot custom home in Downers Grove, Illinois, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.

The efficient construction and solar photovoltaic system combine to nearly eliminate heating and cooling costs for the homeowners of this Chicago-area home.

ENERGY STAR appliances help reduce energy use.

Nearly all of the fixtures in the brightly lit home employ advanced LED lighting.

EPA WaterSense-certified plumbing fixtures help reduce demand in the efficient home.

To help ensure good indoor air quality in the home, the paint, flooring, finishes, sealers, caulking, and other building materials are certified as low- or no-VOC or formaldehyde-emitting products, in line with EPA Indoor airPLUS requirements.

Rigid foam insulation will wrap the interior and exterior of the poured concrete walls of the home's insulated basement. The exterior surface of the walls is protected by a waterproofing coating under the rigid insulation board and a plastic dimpled drain board over the rigid foam for complete moisture and thermal protection.

A continuous layer of rigid foam insulates the interior surface of the insulated basement while spray foam fills the band joists to continue the thermal protection.

Fire-rated caulk air-seals around the ducts.

Strips of flexible foam provide a ventilating air gap between the R-6.6-insulated coated sheathing and the fiber cement lap siding.