LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville home is so energy efficient that, in fact, it's zero energy ready. 

What You Need To Know

  • River City Housing has developed Louisville's first affordable zero energy ready home 

  • A "zero energy ready home" is defined as "a high performance home which is so energy efficient, that a renewable energy system can offset all or most of its annual energy consumption" 

  • The home has solar panels, top-of-the-line windows, an air-sealed barrier and a special ventilation system

  • It is called "The Jenny" and is named after a former construction manager who led research

According to River City Housing (RCH), a brand new Louisville home showcases cutting-edge eco-friendly home design. It’s Louisville’s first "affordable zero energy ready passive" home.

The U.S. Department of Energy defines a "zero energy ready home" as "a high performance home which is so energy efficient, that a renewable energy system can offset all or most of its annual energy consumption." 

“What that means is that this house will pretty much consume as much energy as it produces," said Kimberly Goode, River City Housing vice president. 

Goode said the house is called “The Jenny" and is named after former a construction manager who led research. 

RCH, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, developed the project with a host of funders and partners. It started in 1992 and provides homes to first-time homebuyers with "modest incomes." 

"At River City Housing, we really like to focus on affordability not just at the time of closing for our buyers, but also long-term," Goode said. "We want to make sure that homes are affordable month to month." 

The home has solar panels, top-of-the-line windows, an air-sealed barrier and a special ventilation system. It is 1,300 square feet and features multiple bedrooms, in addition to additional insulation in the attic and energy-efficient doors and appliances. 

“Because it’s sealed airtight, we want to make sure the air quality is healthy," Goode said. "It constantly pumps in fresh air and pulls out the stale air.” 

Goode said most homes range about 100 on the home energy rating system. This house comes in at an 11.

“If you consider what the estimated energy costs are going to be for this home, which is about $305 annually and $25 a month, that is significant for a family’s budget," Goode said. "It's really exciting that we were able to build this house and incorporate the green building techniques that this house has.” 

Goode said she and her team were intentional about making the home affordable, including long-term maintenance and care. 

"It really preserves this unit in a neighborhood that is appreciating," she said. "There will always be, we know, at least one house here that’s affordable for a family who may be starting out and looking for the opportunity to get into home ownership.” 

There is a contract on the home, Goode said, and she'd love to see the soon-to-be residents celebrate their first Christmas inside. 

“I just hope that they’re able to create a tremendous amount of memories in this home," she said. 

The home is part of the Shared Equity program RCH created last year, Goode said. 

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