Net Zero Zona House in Jacksonville, Florida designed using ArchiCAD

John Zona III designed this house as Net Zero home. As a net zero home, the Zona property consumes no more power than it produces. The greenhouse carries solar photovoltaic panels that can produce 6.5 kwH. A special electric meter enables the compound to sell electricity back to the grid during sunny spells and borrow from the grid when sunlight is scarce.

Net Zero Zona House

• Architects: John Zona III
• Location: Jacksonville, Florida
• Program: GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD
• Project Year: 2010

Site Plan

Zona added a geothermal cooling system that consumes less than half the energy of even the most efficient conventional air conditioning. It draws 70 degree water from an aquifer 300 feet below ground, runs the cool water through a heat exchanger to blow 55 degree air, then returns the water to the aquifer.

Additionally Zona designed in an 8,000-gallon tower to collect rainwater for bathing, dishwashing, laundry and other non-drinking use. Gray water is filtered separately and reused for irrigation.

Ist Floor Plan

The Zona house features a main residence and guest cottage/studio, both with football-shaped footprints to minimize the considerable cooling demands of homes in Southern climates.

The long edges of the home and studio face the south and north. A northern exposure is naturally cool, and deep porches on the south side shade windows from any direct sunlight. The points of the football face the higher-intensity east and west, offering very little surface area to absorb heat.

2nd Floor Plan

Zona chose to illuminate the home with LED accent lighting and low-voltage fluorescent lights – both of which produce light as warm as traditional incandescent lights. The home is wired to accept LED lighting throughout just as soon as the technology is affordable.

Zona Sections

The cladding – surprisingly attractive vertical corrugated metal – reflects, rather than absorbs, sunlight.

Tags: Florida, Jacksonville

Category: Residential

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