Flynner Homes | St. Jude Net Zero Dream Home

SUMMER 2010

Created in 1991, the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is the largest single event fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nationwide – having raised more than $173 million for the hospital to date. The 2010 Boise St. Jude Dream Home was designed, built, and verified to reach net zero energy consumption by Flynner Homes. Simply stated, the home will produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of each year, delivering on the “net zero” concept of no overall energy consumption and eliminating utility bills for the homeowner. This project is among the nation’s most energy efficient homes ever built and the first verified Net Zero home in Idaho.

Flynner Homes certifies all homes, including the Net Zero project, under Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building program, which utilizes a third-party verification process that guarantees that the homeowner receives a healthy, environmentally responsible, and more economical home. NAHB’s program incorporates a ‘House as a System’ approach to areas of environmental concern into each home.

Combined with Northwest ENERGY STAR, these features include:

• Resource-efficient design and development practices that help reduce environmental impacts, improve energy performance of the home, and maximize function while optimizing the use of natural resources. This includes reused, recycled, and renewable materials.

• A “whole systems” approach to energy efficiency that incorporates HVAC systems, foundations, insulation, windows, appliances, duct sealing, tankless water heaters and more. 

• Focusing on water conservation both indoors and out by using such items as dual-flush toilets, ENERGY STAR appliances, and moisture-sensing sprinkler systems. 

• Reducing the amount of indoor toxins by eliminating materials and sources that emit harmful vaporous contaminants. 

• Avoiding improper or inadequate maintenance that can defeat the builder’s best efforts to create a resource efficient home by taking time to educate the homeowner about proper operation of their new systems.

The Net Zero Dream Home features a tight building envelope to ensure that the energy generated by its eight kilowatt solar system will be utilized as efficiently as possible to reach Net zero energy use. The home is connected to Idaho Power’s (IDP) energy system using their Net Metering program, which allows customers to install solar on their property, connect to IDP’s electrical grid, and offset their electricity usage with solar power.

Flynner Homes also utilized the Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) Index to measure their success in constructing a net zero home. The HERS Index is an internationally recognized measurement of home energy performance relative to a new home built to current energy codes, which would receive a score of 100. When it comes to the HERS Index, the lower the better. An ENERGY STAR home is at least 15% more efficient than a code-built house and would have a HERS Index of 85. A typical Flynner Home is twice as efficient as an ENERGY STAR home, and therefore would have a HERS Index of 70. The Net Zero home had an official HERS score of -12! With proper education and energy conscious purchases and behaviors, the homeowner should enjoy $0 utility bills and a potential utility credit year after year.

In addition to the direct cost and environmental benefits, Flynner Homes and their partners were able to provide mass exposure and awareness for green building and better choices in everyday living to the entire Idaho community and beyond through the Boise Net Zero project. Open houses and home tours were held regularly before the home raffle to educate consumers on the energy-saving features of the home. Media coverage from the project further promoted the ‘better choices’ concept by showing builders and consumers what can be accomplished through smart design and thoughtful product selection.

On June 27th, after $705,400 was raised and donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a result the campaign, the new ENERGY STAR & NAHB Green certified Net Zero home was raffled off to one of 7,777 ticket holders. Despite economic hurdles, the entire project was constructed with minimal costs for media, labor, and materials thanks to community donations and support.

For more details, visit: www.flynnerhomes.com