George Elliott Joyce III, Nathaly Loaiza Valenzuela, Graciela Camacho Ramirez, Rogelio Manuel Islas, thang kawl ti, Eliy A Diaz, Miguel Angel Canales, Say Reh, Stephanie Guzman, Beteal Okubay Araya, Erick Rogelio Tapia, Kimberley W Campos, Kayla Day Maddox, Megha Raghuram Suswaram

In the pursuit of sustainable living, Zero Energy Homes (ZEHs) have emerged as a promising solution to mitigate the carbon footprint of residential housing. This review paper explores the multifaceted realm of ZEHs by examining diverse definitions, design considerations, challenges, and real-world applications. The lack of standardized definitions is addressed, encompassing variations from net-zero energy consumption to carbon-positive homes. Design considerations emphasize energy efficiency, renewable integration, and geothermal heating. Despite potential benefits, challenges such as human-building interaction persist. Real-world applications showcase successful ZEH implementations, including case studies from Denver and the establishment of Zero Energy Communities. Considerations for cooler climates highlight solar thermal electric systems and geothermal heating as viable options. The broader implications of ZEHs, including environmental benefits and economic development, are discussed. The review concludes by providing insight into ZEH optimization, payback period analysis, and successful case studies, serving as a compass for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners involved in sustainable residential structures.