Skip to main content

Near Zero Maine II

    • Tom Fullam of Near Zero Maine in Vassalboro, Maine, built this certified U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home for less than $5,000 more than a similar-sized home built to the state energy code.
    • With a solar electric system, this home produces nearly as much energy as it uses each year with monthly utility bills averaging less than $30.
    • The detached garage completely separates the home from residual car exhaust, emissions from stored fuel and paints, and other contaminants associated with garages.
    • All of the paints and finishes in the Near Zero Maine home are certified low-/no-VOC to contribute to a healthy indoor environment - this is one of many features that helped the home qualify for the EPA Indoor airPLUS label.
    • Numerous air-sealing details resulted in a super-airtight home with comprehensive draft protection and significant energy savings.
    • The compact, 1,200-square-foot, high-performance home is heated and cooled with one wall-mounted ultra-efficient ductless heat pump (SEER 26, HSPF 10) that costs much less to operate than the oil burners used in typical Maine homes.
    • High-efficiency appliances including an ENERGY STAR refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer reduce energy and water use.
    • The high-efficiency clothes washer and dryer are ENERGY STAR labeled.
    • The Near Zero Maine home's ultra-efficient foundation insulation includes two 4-inch layers of rigid foam that wrap the floor slab in a continuous thermal blanket.
    • Water-saving fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense-certified.

      Near Zero Maine II

      Project Address

      Vassalboro, ME

      Conditioned Square Footage
      1,200 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      2 Beds
      Number of Bathrooms
      2.0 Baths
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      1 Floor Above Grade
      Home Type
      Affordable
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Very Cold

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      35HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $25Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $2,600Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $110,00030 Year Savings (PV)

      Near Zero Maine

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Honorable Mention

      Learn More

      Key Features

      Key Features
      All-electric home Cold-climate heat pump Compact (core) plumbing design Energy / Heat recovery ventilator Photovoltaics Triple-pane windows ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25 Double Walls Central Manifold Plumbing Design

      Read the Case Study

      Testimonials

      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      I love this home. I never thought home ownership could be this easy: no condensation on the windows, less dust, very little maintenance, affordable utilities and it’s good for the environment. In so many ways it has improved our quality of life. It has given us more time, money and peace of mind.
      Testimony Citation
      Homeowner and wife of builder, Stephanie Fullam

      Additional Media

      Finished Interiors

        Other Images

        •

          Floor Plan