Passive VOLKsHouse is an Affordable Net-Zero Energy Home in Santa Fe

Think you could get your dream, net-zero, passive house for less then $200 a square foot? Well <a href="http://mo-s-a.com/" target="_blank">MoSA Architects</a> is one up on you with their <a href="http://worldecohouse.com/news/" target="_blank">VOLKsHouse</a>—an affordable, net-zero, certified Passive House in Santa Fe that only cost $165 per square foot. The adobe-style home is ultra-efficient thanks to its solar hot water and photovoltaic systems, and it features a two-car garage and a rooftop deck. Inside the three bedroom, two bath home is a luxurious, open and bright space that proves that you can have your cake and eat it too.

<a href="http://mo-s-a.com/" target="_blank">MoSA Architects'</a> work is focussed on developing and building affordable and energy efficient homes that make it easy for the homeowner to minimize their environmental impact and their most recent project is the net-zero, passive VOLKsHouse.

VOLKsHouse is a 1,717 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath home that lives big for its small footprint.

The home was completed for $165 per square foot ($283,305), which is 5% less expensive per-square-foot than a regional home of similar size, based on industry-standard protocol, RSMeans cost modeling, and as corroborated by Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association members.

Certified by Passive House, the home uses 90% less energy than a typical single family home and then the rest of the energy needed is supplied by solar hot water and photovoltaic systems on the roof to make it completely net-zero energy.

The ultra-efficient home is built with 2×6 framing, ZIP Panel sheathing, a 10-inch layer of EPS, triple-pane Optiwin doors and window, efficient LED lighting, energy-use monitoring, and makes use of heat recovery/ventilation system.

Besides its Passive House certification, the home has also been rated Emerald by the National Home Builders Association.

At the beginning of August, VOLKsHouse was awarded the <a href="http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/award-winners/volkshouse-santa-fe-nm.aspx" target="_blank">2012 EcoHome Grand Design Award</a>.

“People live in the economics of the present and generally don’t have money to invest in long-term energy savings, so we wanted to design a home that’s healthy, sustainable and affordable,” said Bob Schneck, a MoSA partner and VOLKsHouse investor.

Last year MoSA completed the live/work passivhaus <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-balance-project-is-a-modern-passivhaus-for-santa-fe-new-mexico/" target="_blank">Balance Project</a>.

“VOLKsHouse is a total efficiency package––an affordable eco-house envisioned from scratch with solar electricity and solar hot water to cut annual energy costs below zero and deliver power back to the grid.”

The home sold to its new owners in July for an estimated price of $415,000.

Site plan and orientation of the VOLKsHouse.

Floor plans of the VOLKsHouse.