Skip to main content

The Oberlin ZERH

    • Sareth Builders built this 1,814-square-foot custom home in Lorain, Ohio, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
    • The highly efficient home achieved a low HERS score of 36, even without solar panels installed. The home should save its owners over $1,000 a year in energy costs.
    • LED lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances add to the energy efficiency of the home.
    • High-efficiency mini-split heat pumps heat and cool the home. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) installed in the largest open area of the home ensures controlled conditioned constant fresh air, while a whole-house wall-mounted dehumidifier helps keep the indoor air comfortably dry .
    • EPA WaterSense-rated low-flow fixtures add to water and energy savings in the efficient home. Continuously running low-energy bath fans pull water vapor out of the rooms to minimize mold and condensation issues.
    • For the foundation, Sareth used pre-fabricated concrete wall panels that come with an R-20 layer of EPS foam insulation factory attached to the interior side of the panels. The builder added R-20 XPS + polyiso rigid foam on the surface and face of the slab shelf to stop thermal bridging at the perimeter of the slab.
    • The builder installed 2 inches of rigid polyiso under the entire slab.
    • The 2-by-6, 24-inch on-center walls were filled with dense-packed cellulose and all joints and seams were caulked or taped to provide draft-free construction.
    • The walls were wrapped in a continuous blanket of 2-inch-thick rigid foam insulation.
    • This infrared image shows how well the rigid foam insulation stopped thermal bridging through the walls.

      The Oberlin ZERH

      Project Address

      Lorain, OH

      Conditioned Square Footage
      1,814 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      3 Beds
      Number of Bathrooms
      2.0 Baths
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      1 Floor Above Grade
      Home Type
      Custom
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Cold
      Climate Zone Humidity
      Humid

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      36HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $110Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $1,000Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $48,70030 Year Savings (PV)

      Sareth Builders, LLC

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Winner
      HIA Category
      Housing Innovation Award

      Learn More

      Key Features

      Key Features
      Cold-climate heat pump Compact (core) plumbing design Energy / Heat recovery ventilator Electric Vehicle Charger Installed or Wired for Charger High-performance wall with continuous insulation ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25

      Read the Case Study

      Testimonials

      Video Testimonial
      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      We receive consistent feedback from our ZERH clients indicating how comfortable and quiet our homes are in addition to their appreciation of … breathing clean, fresh air and the reduced ownership costs of low-maintenance, durable construction.
      Testimony Citation
      Sareth Builders

      Additional Media

      Finished Interiors

        Under Construction

        •

          Other Images

          •

            Floor Plan