Purchase proven
net zero energy plans or design a custom home
We bring the next generation of energy efficiency and comfort within reach of anyone planning a new build. This is the future of housing.
Featured Zero Energy Home Plans
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Fox Clerestory Net Zero
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.003 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bath
Average cost to build: Contact For Details
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Net Positive 4-Plex
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.002 Bedrooms | 2 Bath Per Unit
Average cost to build: Contact For Details
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Neos
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.004 Bedrooms | 3 Bath
Average cost to build: $709,000
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Carriage House DADU
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.001 Bedroom | 1 Bath
Average cost to build: $317,000
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Fullenwider
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.001 Bedroom | 1 Bath
Average cost to build: $285,000
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Sandpoint
Price range: $400.00 through $1,400.001 Bedroom | 1 Bath
Average cost to build: $235,000
Custom design & consultation
Powerhouse simplifies the process of building a net-zero home. Let our award-winning team of net-zero design experts develop plans that are in harmony with your budget and building site. We also offer consultation services to support you at any stage of your homebuilding journey.
Organize raw land, so it’s ready for living.
We’ll handle bringing the power, water, sanitary service and cable to the site so you don’t have to! Prior to breaking ground we will manage any critical areas, wetlands, variances and more. We will take great care in planning and designing your home, and working on a budget that everyone is happy with. Our construction company breaks ground as soon as permits are issued, demoing the site and prepping it for your new home!
Our homes are designed to outperform
No Energy Bills
Your home can generate enough solar energy to cover all heating, cooling, and domestic use. It can even have enough left to charge your electric car!
Comfort
Outstanding indoor air quality, comfortable temperatures in all seasons, abundant natural light. Your new home will be the most comfortable and livable space you’ve ever experienced.
Low Carbon
We are working towards homes that are net zero carbon. In the meantime, your home is guaranteed to have lower than average emobided carbon and will emit zero carbon day to day.
Learn more about net-zero building »
Who we are
We are drawn to people with a passion for doing things differently, who dream big and see possibilities beyond the status quo. When you work with us, you get a team that shares your commitment to pushing the performance envelope, that is personally committed to making your home everything you dreamed it could be.
Meet our team! »
Why Powerhouse Designs?
All our house designs have been built. We are a team of very practical designers who work in the design-build industry. Because these houses are easy and logical to build, your contractor’s bid price will be lower than other designs. Living in a Powerhouse means you pay no fuel or electricity bills, the interior is bright, and you have splendid vaulted ceilings. We have been awarded more than a dozen times by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Awards
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Testimonials
“I am astonished almost every day with how well this house works for us. . . . The Powerhouse designers listened carefully and turned our ideas and sketches into a practical design that could be built in an efficient manner. We are both delighted with living here and really enjoying all the features.”
Carrie & John
Everson, WA
“It has been a wonderful experience living in our home so far…The quality of my sleep is so much better now that we live in a well-insulated house that stays cool during hot days and has a good ventilation system. The house design, with our bedroom to the north, ensures a better sleeping environment. Having our living areas on the south also ensures the most used areas of the house have great natural light and feel bright and welcoming.”
Erica & Mark
Bellingham, WA
“Being such an integrated part of the design process and being able to work so closely with the design team has helped us feel a sense of ownership and satisfaction with every part of our house. This is, in every way, our house, and the design team was a crucial part in making that happen.”
Sheili & Andy
Bellingham, WA
“Jake was a real pleasure to work with on design—made it really easy. We didn’t even have to know anything about CAD software. And the clerestory is terrific for light.”
Bonnie & Bill
Bellingham, WA
“The firm’s designer, Jake, was a joy to work with, and I imposed upon him far too often without complaint. He saved me from numerous errors, unneeded expense, and walked me through a tangled San Juan County permitting process I would have struggled with.”
Robert
Orcas Island, WA
Talk to us about your home-building ideas today.
Give us a call at (360) 872-6814
or
FAQ
Is net zero possible in my cold/hot/cloudy location?
Yes. We build net-zero houses in the Pacifc Northwest, which is cloudy and yields 3.5 hours of sunshine per day on average. With this level of cloudiness, we spec between 3.1 watts of solar per square foot (for a 2,500-square-foot house) to 4.8 watts per square foot (for a 1,000-square-foot house) to achieve net zero.
Does a net-zero house have batteries?
Not necessarily. A net-zero house does not need batteries because the house is tied to the electricity grid. Because net-zero houses are often all electric, a battery is a good idea if your area has power outages. You can also keep a generator for these eventualities.
Does a net-zero home cost more to build?
Great Question! The pay back on solar, extra insulation, air sealing, better windows, and heat pumps averages between 10-15 years. When you amortize the cost over a 30-year mortgage, your monthly payment plus energy bills is actually less than if you built a conventional home. If you add in an electric car or two, the monthly savings can be substantial. A typical Powerhouse Designs home can have a similar mortgage to other homes in the neighborhood, yet have an electricity bill of $7.49 per month which includes electric car charging. Not having to buy gas for as long as you live in the home contributes even further to the cost savings.
Why isn’t every home net zero?
We think that the main reason is that most people don’t even know that it is possible. We use SIPs, triple pane windows, and heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water. That gets our homes down to about 30% of the energy cost of a typical new home. We use solar panels on the roof to produce that power and even charge electric cars.
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