From the 2021 High Performance Home Summit

Many builders are attracted to the idea of building zero energy homes. However, there is an unspoken presumption that these homes really only pencil out for custom-home money-is-no-object clients or possibly, as heavily subsidized affordable home demonstration projects. Are zero energy homes really possible for the production home builder? And, can you make any profit building them? In 2020 and 2021, Kevin Brozyna, Vice President of Operations for Production Builder Insight Homes of Bridgeville, Delaware, oversaw construction of more homes certified through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Zero Energy Ready Home Program than any other builder in the country. In this presentation, Kevin shares how, despite a year marked by skyrocketing materials costs and supply chain and labor shortages, this successful production builder has managed to turn a profit while sticking to their company's high zero energy performance and quality goals. Kevin will share the cost-saving methods, marketing techniques, and production challenges and solutions he's learned along the way that could benefit production home builders across the country. Kevin is joined by Terrence Mosley of DOE and Terri Gilbride of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, who will provide an overview of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program and share construction best practices from DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Housing Innovation Award winners in every construction category from production to custom for buyer, custom spec, multifamily, affordable, and attached.

Presenters:
Kevin Brozyna, VP of Operations, Insight Homes
Theresa Gilbride, Building Energy Efficiency Researcher, PNNL
Terrence Mosley, US Department of Energy