TOKYO — Major homebuilders in Japan are hoping to sell many more net-zero energy houses, that is, homes whose efficient designs and solar panels mean they have a net energy consumption of zero. In some cases, they may even be net energy producers.
Misawa Homes plans to build zero-energy houses for sale on a large scale in fiscal 2017. The company has already introduced homes with high-performance fiberglass insulation and solar panels as standard features in relatively inexpensive houses targeting people in their 30s.