With household bills rising faster than inflation, the promise of a net-zero energy home — a home that produces more power than it uses — has never felt more relevant. In Hermosa Beach, California, one family has been quietly proving for over a decade that it’s not just an idea.

Robert Fortunato, a longtime advocate of sustainable building, remodeled his family’s 1959, 2,150-square-foot house into what he calls the “Green Idea House.” Today it stands as one of the first net-zero energy, zero-carbon case study houses built for less than the cost of a traditional remodel.

“It’s one of the first net-zero energy, zero-carbon case study houses that was built for less cost than standard construction,” Fortunato says.
“We used standard construction materials and off-the-shelf technologies that anyone can use.”

Story Highlights

• Net-zero energy home: Generates more electricity than it consumes

• Solar power: 26 rooftop panels run the house and charge two electric cars

• Gas-free living: All-electric appliances, induction cooking and heat-pump water heaters

• Passive design: Roof overhangs and thermal chimney reduce heating and cooling needs

• Annual savings: About $4,800 a year after solar payback

• Adaptation: Design tweaked as climate warms faster than expected

Cutting Ties With Gas

Before the remodel, the Fortunato household looked like any other. Gas powered the hot-water heater, furnace and kitchen appliances. Fortunato says the family decided to change course after repeated news about oil companies and environmental damage.

“We had just seen so many instances where the oil companies were not being responsible for the environment,” he recalls.
“We had a gas hot water heater. We had a gas furnace. We had all gas appliances.”

Disconnecting from the gas utility during construction saved money on pipes and allowed the family to choose electric systems. Twenty-six rooftop solar panels now supply all the household’s electricity and enough surplus to charge two electric cars.

“We really haven’t had an electric bill or a gas bill in the last 13 years,” Fortunato says.

He paid about $18,000 upfront for the system and estimates the family saves around $4,800 annually in utility costs, reaching payback in four years.

Research, Planning and Passive Design

From the street, the modern three-story house blends in with its Hermosa Beach neighborhood of contemporary and Mission-style homes. Yet its hidden features show how a net-zero energy home works.

A flat roof extends five feet beyond the front wall, hiding the solar panels from view while shading the southwest-facing façade. In summer, the overhang blocks direct sunlight and lowers cooling needs. In winter, when the sun sits lower, natural light and heat enter through large windows to warm the interior.

“Sixty percent of the energy that is saved, in terms of heating and cooling, is through that overhang alone,” Fortunato explains.

An open stairway doubles as a “thermal chimney.” By opening two vented windows at the top, hot air naturally escapes, reducing the need for air conditioning. Several skylights bring daylight indoors, and efficient LED lighting minimizes evening use.

This approach draws on centuries-old ideas such as Native American cliff dwellings and is echoed in Harvard’s HouseZero project in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Staying the Course

Some changes were straightforward, like swapping incandescent bulbs for LEDs. Others required persistence. Fortunato chose locally manufactured brown metal siding to cut transport emissions but discovered late in the process that the color he ordered came only from a Texas factory. He switched to a similar shade made in nearby Fontana, California, to meet his goal.

He even replaced an old garage-door opener that consumed 15 watts constantly with a model using 80% less standby power.

Chris Magwood of the Rocky Mountain Institute says homeowners need to be clear about their motivations.

“Having me as a consultant is like having that annoying two-year-old in your house because I just go, ‘Why?’ Like, why a solar house?” Magwood says.

He notes that rooftop solar panels make the most environmental sense in states that burn large amounts of coal for electricity, but less so where power grids already rely on cleaner sources.

Updating for a Hotter Climate

When Fortunato began the remodel 15 years ago, some now-common technologies were just emerging. He installed two heat-pump water heaters in the garage — one for domestic hot water and another to supply radiators that heat the home — even though contractors treated the idea like “science fiction.”

As local temperatures have risen faster than expected, he has added shades to skylights and is considering a small air-conditioning unit. Regular cleaning of the solar panels has also become necessary to remove soot from busy street traffic.

“It’s so ironic,” Fortunato says.
“The thing we’re trying to fight actually is depositing this layer that reduces the production of the solar panels.”

Will More People Follow?

The Fortunato family hoped their project would inspire others to build or remodel for net-zero energy homes. They have offered tours, hosted a reality show and shared lessons widely. Yet such homes remain a fraction of a percent of the nation’s 140 million housing units.

“We wanted to make the house something that anyone would want to live in,” Fortunato says, contrasting his home with some efficient houses he’s seen that resemble “spaceships” or “mud huts.”

He believes the financial argument may eventually persuade more people. His rough math: about $200 a month saved on household utilities plus $100 each for two electric cars — roughly $400 a month still adding up 15 years after completion.

Appreciating your time:

We appreciate you taking the time to read our most recent article! We appreciate your opinions and would be delighted to hear them. We value your opinions as we work hard to make improvements and deliver material that you find interesting.

Post a Comment:

In the space provided for comments below, please share your ideas, opinions, and suggestions. We can better understand your interests thanks to your input, which also guarantees that the material we offer will appeal to you. Get in Direct Contact with Us: Please use our “Contact Us” form if you would like to speak with us or if you have any special questions. We are open to questions, collaborations, and, of course, criticism. To fill out our contact form, click this link.

Stay Connected:

Don’t miss out on future updates and articles.