Comments on: ZETA to open doors to 'net zero' home

Start-up says it has "cracked the code" on how to build multifamily homes that produce as much energy as they consume--at least in sunny climes.

[Remo_Williams]

Place these in blighted towns, and get a good feel for what kind of damage a tenant can do to your net-zero homes.

[mishmash0101]

Real-time feedback is only useful if the user cares. Most don't. For example, most cars now have real time display of MPG but hardly anyone pays attention. Drivers just floor it regardless of the cost.

[maidensolo]

OF COURSE they are going to GOUGE the rich for all they have! It's the American way! That does not mean that Only the rich can have green homes. That means that only the rich can have THESE green homes. So what?
Did you ever put baseball cards in the spokes of you bicycle wheels? Yea? Me Too! And then one day you were riding along feeling so cool and this prissy little girl who is new on the block comes sailing by and she has a bike with one of those white wicker baskets with REAL ribbon woven into it, and the handlebar grips have shiny metallic streamers magically growing out of them and they wave up and down in the wind like they are saying "see ya later chump"!
Well, the bicycle company gouged her dad for her cool bike. We still applied the principals of coolness to our bikes in our own ways. No one stopped us.The rich will be gouged for their green houses. And we will build our green houses our way, and no one will stop us. It's the American way. micah mcdaniel

[paulhartunian598]

I have to agree with maidensolo. It is easy for celebrities to preach about caring about the environment and making a difference when these things cost a fortune. A lot of people can make a difference only when these technologies are available to the masses. Isn't it obvious?
I wonder if it will continue to be "cool" for the wealthy since it won't be exclusive to them anymore.
It is such a shame that goverments don't support this type of technologies which soon will be indispensable, what are the majority going to do then?
I remember going to a third world country and observing how most of the cars are compact and fuel efficient I commented: "It is great to see that people here care about the environment and try not to pollute". How naive! My friend told me it was necessary to have small and fuel efficient cars because the car prices are very expensive and the gas is almost a luxury. "Driving an SUV here is a luxury".

[paulhartunian598]

I deeply admire people who build their green houses their way, even if it means more work and inconveniences. This shows determination and their actions should be valued more than the celebrities and wealthy people who do this because it is fashionable and easy for them.
I can't picture any of these celebrities making their own compost and cultivating their own vegetables.

<a href="http://www.paulspublicityblog.com/" target="_blank">Paul Hartunian</a>

[davidwfox]

Surprising that some (presumably) tech-savvy cnet readers don't recognize the same thing is going on in green building that we've enjoyed in the tech world for decades: namely those who can afford to be first pay a premium, and thus subsidize later markets. The 'trickle down' effect is that over time prices will fall as products go into volume production. It is true that custom green building - especially retrofitting a Victorian as I am presently doing - is complex and expensive especially if you have a 5-10 year horizon. But I think we need to look longer term. My house has stood for 100 years and will I'm sure stand for another 100 years. Amortize the costs over 20-30 years and you're well ahead. Over time companies like ZETA (and their customers) will benefit from the efforts of the pioneers.