By Mandy McFarland Editor
NAPPANEE — For many, the thought of never paying another utility bill may sound like an unrealistic dream.
Thanks to advances in green technology, however, such dreams have become reality and are already being integrated into one house on East Market Street in Nappanee in the form of a net-zero home by New Energy Homes.

New Energy is a division of Borkholder Buildings. Owner Dwayne Borkholder was first inspired to build a zero-energy house out of frustration toward his own energy bills and the lack of control he often feels.
“(There) is a need out there that is not being filled,” he said.
So in a time when the construction business and housing market were down and energy bills were up, Borkholder decided it was time to do something about it. The result was a net-zero house that not only produces its own electricity, it requires less to heat and cool.
From the sidewalk, it looks like just any other house. However, a closer look will reveal that the entire west side of the roof is made up of solar panels. While Borkholder said the south side of the house would have been best, but the direction the house faces made this impractical. However, he said, the panels, combined with a geothermal system, are capable of producing so much electricity that it can be stored up during the sunny summer months and used throughout the winter.
This is just the beginning, however. According to Borkholder, much of the home’s energy efficiency comes from what the homeowner will not see, including high-efficiency insulation that will keep more heat in. Around the insulation is a metallic foil-like covering that will reflect heat back into the room. The floor, too, contains concrete slabs that trap energy and keep the room temperature more even.
Even the ductwork is designed with efficiency in mind, running through the ceiling, rather than through an attic, keeping the warmth closer to the room it is heating. Ten-inch-thick walls and low-E (low-emmissivity) windows further keep heat inside where it belongs. A metal roof with reflective paint keeps excess heat out during the summertime.
Aside from the structure of the house, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, appliances and light fixtures will be installed. When it is completed, the home will be Green certified, Energy Star certified and LEED certified.
The house will be finished sometime in November, Borkholder said, and then it will be on the market. While the target market is couples 50 and older, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the house is rated for up to four people.
After the events of Oct. 18, 2007 many Nappanee residents may be reluctant to move into a house without a basement, like the zero-energy house. However, Borkholder said, there is the option for what he calls a “safety pit,” a recessed area, perhaps behind the stairs, that is reinforced and away from outside walls. Another option would be a “tornado module,” or steel-reinforced rooms, like a bathroom, bolted to the concrete, which can be integrated into the design of the house. However, he said, the overall structure should be strong enough in a similar circumstance.
“The construction method is much better at withstanding wind loads and will perform a lot better in strong wind conditions,” Borkholder said. “I often remind local people who talk about that first, I say there’s many places in the country where basements are not an option.”
In keeping with the “green” theme, the insulation contains 80 percent recycled material. Low-use shower heads and faucets and low-flush toilets will be installed to reduce water usage.
For those who think a low-energy house would have to be odd-looking, the Borkholder house is designed to fit into the neighborhood, and is built with curb appeal in mind.