Task Force to Study Zero-Energy Homes

Austin Business Journal – Unsatisfied with being the official Capital of Texas and unofficial Live Music Capital of the World, the City of Austin now says it wants to be the “Clean Energy Capital” of the world.

To further that end, Austin Energy says the city council will create and appoint a task force Aug. 10 to study the possibility of adopting building code changes that require all new single-family homes in Austin to be “zero-energy capable” by 2015.

Zero-energy capable means a home is efficient enough to be able to power itself with on-site energy generation. This level of energy efficiency is approximately 60 percent more efficient than homes built to code today, the city-owned utility says.
Austin Business Journal