The Guardian and the Independent are buzzing about the affordable Zero-Energy Home built by ZEDfactory , a British architectural firm. The modular design utilizes a passive heat recovery ventilation system, with a woodchip-fueled biomass boiler as a back-up system. The three-bedroom model, called ruralZED is estimated to cost £150,000 ($298,000), a significant price reduction from previous entries into the market, though that price does not include the cost of the land or infrastructure installation.

The design meets the strict Code 6 standards of British Government regulations, a sustainable design standard which will be the requirement for all homes built after 2016. The ruralZED is a kit that can be scaled from detached units, semi-detached, and terraces of 6 units.

In the United States, the only building that has demonstrated 12 months of zero net energy usage is a a home located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, built by the Metro Denver Habitat for Humanity, with help from NREL engineers. (Source: Energy Design Update, Feb. 2007).