Island Carpentry - Eco-Village One

Maine's First
Affordable Zero-Energy Housing Development

We propose to build Maine’s first zero-energy affordable housing subdivision. Homes are designed with energy saving systems and priced to sell within the guidelines of Maine State Housing.

Department of Energy defines a zero energy house as being 70% more efficient than a conventionally built home. We know that we can do better. Our proposed homes will feature:

Super insulation
Air exchange system
Solar thermal domestic hot water
Passive solar
Energy star rated appliances
Compact fluorescent lights

The above list will achieve more than 70% energy savings.

In order to bring a house beyond the DOE definition of zero energy, closer to actual zero energy, it is necessary to produce electricity at the home. This can be achieved with either a windmill or a photovoltaic solar system. Currently both are too expensive to include in an affordable home. Thus we will seek grant money to provide either wind or photovoltaic in order to bring energy costs as close to zero as possible.

Our demonstration project will show that it is possible to achieve near zero energy in an affordable home. Investors will share the credit for helping to achieve this in the State of Maine. With a bottom-up impact on the housing industry, our project will serve as a model for all houses, proving we can have an impact on creating energy independence at any price level.

Click Here to Learn More about Eco-Village One in Bath, Maine