Sustainability Plan
Zero Net Energy Homes SM TM
Relevant Business Actions in Support of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Targets
Our Business
Our core business focus includes single-family Passive House, renewable energy systems, and permaculture landscape, consulting and design services, plus related products. Related non-core products and services may pertain to indoor food systems, as well as water-related harvesting and reclamation. As part of our core business, we intend to sell products, services, training, and provide other educational content, with the following key objectives: acquire information service subscribers, establish a brand through adoption of the Zero Net Energy Homes SM TM Pledge, providing certification training for the Pledge, and provide a directory of those who have taken the Pledge.
We actively seek out core business opportunities in the United States and international development markets. While we do not seek out multi-family projects, we would be glad to assist if we have the availability. Commercial and industrial projects, if any, may also be considered. The bottom line is that if someone is seeking help with a high-performance building project and they want to integrate our renewable energy system approach of minimizing the use of photovoltaic panels, and batteries, we will do everything within our power to provide that assistance.
Directly connected with our core business, we intend to provide information on available grants and incentive programs. We will start with U.S. federal programs, then expand state-by-state based upon our geographic focus, and online user interest. Our current primary geographic focus for on-the-ground projects and assisting with grant and incentive applications is within Maryland and Pennsylvania. Virtually, we will provide our products and services anywhere. International projects may require an additional partner or legal paperwork.
The Zero Net Energy Homes SM TM Pledge
We pledge to ensure that every building project we are involved in is designed to be the most energy efficient building that is practical given reasonable design constraints, that only renewable energy systems shall be used, while minimizing the use of photovoltaic panels and batteries. In the event photovoltaic panels or batteries are required under the given design constraints, we pledge that we shall only use panels and batteries from suppliers that are subject to Extended Producer Responsibility laws, or have agreed to reclaim and recycle or remanufacture them, after their useful life – at no extra charge to the customer.
Our Value Chain Plan
We have a home-based office using an array of outsourced services. Our only employees at present consist of close family members. We may leverage services such as Fiverr for a variety of things. As we build out our supply chain network, we will seek suppliers to take the Zero Net Energy Homes SM TM Pledge. We intend to partner with builders, equipment manufacturers and NGOs, as well as with university, government, and academic partners, to engage in research and development. We seek to engage in joint development agreements with various renewable energy systems manufacturers in the United States and other countries (HVAC, solar thermal, solar hot water, ground source heat pump, Stirling and related engines, air compressors and expanders, compressed air tanks, and mechanically driven generators/turbines). We intend to participate in multi-stakeholder collaborations as well as provide input to policymaking goals and objectives in areas related to our business.
Direct Business Actions to Achieve United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Targets
SDG 8.4, ties together many SDGs, related to improving efficiency and decoupling growth from environmental degradation. SDG 12.2 ties together multiple SDGs, including sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. SDG 12.8, is another key SDG that ties together others, and includes ensuring that people have information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature. This largely pertains to education and information as well as company disclosures.
Our direct business actions pursuant to these key overarching SDGs are more explicitly covered in relation to specific SDGs as follows.
Climate Change
SDG 13.1, strengthen resilience to climate change.
Our aim is to reduce reliance on the national power grid and avoid adding an additional X number of tons of CO2 per year through Passive House construction, and use of renewable energy systems.
SDG 13.3, provide input to national policy.
To do this we intend to collaborate with NGOs, provide white papers and testimony, as well as to propose legislation particularly regarding building codes, energy systems, green spaces, etc., all the way down to the local government level.
SDG 13.3, educational awareness regarding climate change.
We plan to leverage existing climate change awareness to educate others about the benefits of reducing energy intensity requirements in the built environment and using renewable energy systems as a key factor in preventing additional greenhouse gas loading on the environment.
Environmentally Sound Resource Use
SDG 9.4 industrial environmentally sound resource use.
We intend to reduce building energy intensity requirements through use of the Passive House Standard, and use of renewable energy systems components that have the lowest Life Cycle Assessment impact that is practical given reasonable design and cost constraints.
Pollution
SDG target 3.9 and 12.4, Reduce health impacts from pollution and GHG emissions. SDG 12.4, environmentally sound management of chemicals waste through the lifecycle. SDG 12.5, reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling. Refer also to SDG 7.1-7.3 (Energy), 8.4 (overarching), 9.4 (Environmentally Source Resource Use), and 12.2 (overarching).
We will avoid additional GHG fossil fuel contribution in the built environment specifically regarding construction of single-family homes. We also intend to avoid increasing contaminant levels due to the lifecycle impact of photovoltaic panels and batteries, thereby reducing impact on air, water, and soil contamination.
Housing
SDG 11.1 and 11.3, access to housing and basic services.
In urban planning for these, we intend to work with local governments, general contractors, builders, etc. To ensure Passive House and renewable energy and water systems are utilized, we plan to identify grant and incentive programs to help with providing housing and services. We will also seek to partner with modular building suppliers on projects.
Energy
SDG 7.1, ensure access to energy. SDG 7.2, increase the use of renewable energy. SDG 7.3, double energy efficiency.
Our target is to prevent adding X number billions of tons of CO2 per year through Passive House and renewable energy projects and education. We plan to promote and sell Passive House and renewable energy systems products and services to reduce building energy intensity requirements and gradually increase renewable energy systems efficiency.
We will sell products for renewable energy and hot water systems. We will provide design and implementation services for these for both domestic and international development projects.
We may also sell clean cooking stoves, solar ovens, and low-power lighting systems.
We will also provide assistance identifying and applying for grants and other incentives such as tax credits, for installing and paying for these renewable energy and water systems.
Water
SDG 6.1, access to drinking water. SDG 6.2, access to adequate sanitation and hygiene. SDG 6.4 water use efficiency and scarcity.
We intend to sell water harvesting and water reclamation products, solar hot water heating systems, and provide water systems education and consulting services.
We may sell related plumbing products in support of water harvesting, use, and reclamation. Some of these products may be better suited for off-grid or international development applications.
Food Supply Systems
SDG 2.4, ensure sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices.
We will provide permaculture landscape design services and products. We may also sell products in support of indoor food production. See also Planning and Development topic.
Education
SDG target 4.5 ensure equal access and education.
We will provide scholarships and sliding scale for those who cannot afford any of our services requiring payment. We will ensure that our online services are compatible with accessibility tools.
Planning and Development
SDG 15.9, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into local planning development processes and poverty reduction strategies.
To do this, we will engage with local planning policymakers to promote green spaces, urban agriculture projects, and Community Supported Agriculture projects (CSAs). These activities would, ideally, result in permaculture project related sales revenue.
SDG 17.14, enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. SDGs 17.16 and 17.17, multi-stakeholder partnerships.
To do this we may forge strategic multi-stakeholder projects. We may engage key points of contact at the World Bank, UN, USAID, and other international development organizations regarding projects, as well as policy collaborations. We may also participate in multi-stakeholder policy collaborations.
Developing Capacity
SDG 9.5, upgrade technical capacity in developing countries. SDG 17.7-17.9, promote use of environmentally sound technology to developing countries.
We intend to engage primarily as a subcontractor to others on multistakeholder international development projects:
- providing direct implementation products and services
- providing program management services
- providing training services and educational content
- engaging in joint development agreements with various universities, builders, and renewable energy systems and components manufacturers
Corporate and Supply Chain Compliance
As we grow and hire employees outside of our family, we will strive to excel in all of the following human and labor rights areas:
- SDG 5.4 – minimize the need for unpaid labor, and support compensation for care
- SDGs 6.1 and SDG 6.2 – ensure that workers have access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene
- SDG 8.7 and 16.2 – eradicate forced labor, including child abuse and modern slavery
- SDG 8.8 – promote safe and secure working environments
- SDGs 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4 – inclusion, non-discrimination, and paying a living wage
- SDG 16.5 – reduce corruption and bribery
- SDG 16.10 – protection of fundamental freedoms
For our suppliers and customers, we expect to cover the above human and rights requirements in all contracts, unless they are already adequately covered in public disclosures (SDG 12.6), or the entity is already well-known to us (e.g., a local independent business). The same is true for supply chain adherence to SDG 9.4, industrial environmentally sound resource use, and its various components described in the sections above.
We consult a variety of sources to determine whether or not to do business with a particular customer or supplier, depending on the track record of their upstream and downstream suppliers and customers and how they engage with them to excel or do better. These considerations also extend to the countries in which these entities are doing business. We consult a variety of resources to guide us in our business decisions. Here are some examples of the resources we review:
- U.S. Department of State – Trafficking Persons Report
- Transparency International’s – Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
- International Labour Organization – web site, various resources
- Varieties of Democracy – regarding protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights
- Amnesty International – The State of the World’s Human Rights
- Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating
- MCSI ESG Rating
For smaller organizations we perform our own detailed, specialized, due diligence on who we do business with.
Areas We May Contribute to or Have Indirect Impact Upon
These areas are not, generally, part of our core business. Some may comprise incidental business. Others may receive direct support through time or donations contributed. Others we may not have had an appropriate opportunity to provide any direct support or cause any significant indirect impact.
SDG 2.4, we will promote short supply chains for food.
In addition to promoting urban agriculture and CSA projects, we may support other activities such as local food networks, promoting farmers markets, etc.
SDG 5.4, minimize unpaid care work.
We seek to eliminate the need for hauling water and collecting wood by the women and girls of the household. For international development projects, this may be accomplished by water harvesting, renewable energy systems, solar ovens, and other clean cooking stoves.
SDG 6.6, protect and restore water-related ecosystems. SDG 14.1 water conservation, prevent water pollution. SDGs 15.1 and 15.4, conservation of forest, wetlands, and mountains. SDG 15.5, prevent degradation of natural habitats.
Through our permaculture landscape design services, we avoid disruption of the local watershed and biodiversity.
SDG 13.3, educational awareness regarding climate change.
We also, incidentally, may contribute to reduction in GHG emissions by encouraging local food production through permaculture and indoor food supply systems over the support of large-scale livestock operations.
SDG 15.6, promote access to genetic resources.
We may do this by promoting seed exchanges and seed banks in various ways.