Frequently Asked Questions

How can I follow your progress?

We will update this website as our 1,500 square foot home design is completed and hope to include photographs of the initial construction project early in 2026.

What types of housing options do you offer?

At Brinklow Net Zero LLC, we are currently working on the detailed design of a 1500 sq-ft single family home design that: has a target price of $300,000, produces a peak power of 20 kW from roof top solar panels, has a south facing exposure to maximize passive solar heating in the winter months, has thermal energy storage, employs low air leakage with high levels of insulation, and produces twice as much energy as it consumes. 

How does solar energy benefit my family?

Solar energy can significantly reduce or eliminate your monthly utility bills and provide a reliable source of energy. By harnessing the power of the sun, families can enjoy lower utility costs and contribute to a cleaner environment. The homeowner may be able to generate Net Metering credits that minimize their electric bill while also selling Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) to organizations that need to offset their emissions.  The current design is being optimized for a Baltimore location.

Are there any financial assistance programs available?

Yes, there are both State and Federal programs that benefit both the builder and the homeowner.  Details depend upon your location.  If you are in the State of Maryland, we can help you explore these benefits by providing links to programs. 

What is Net Metering?

Net Metering is a billing mechanism that allows residential solar system owners to receive credit from their local electric company for the excess electricity that they generate and send back to the grid (more information below).

How Does Net Metering Work?

1. A house with solar panels has an electric meter that can measure the energy that you use from the grid as well as the energy that you put back on the grid.
2. As your solar panels produce more energy than your house uses (often during a sunlit day), the meter measures how much energy you put back on the grid.  At night when there is no solar energy being produced, the meter measures how much energy you consume from the grid. 
3. Since the price of energy provided by your electricity provider may vary with the time of day, your net cost is a more complex calculation that also may include other utility charges. 

What are the Benefits of Net Metering?

1. In the very efficient houses that Brinklow Net Zero is designing for Baltimore, Maryland, the homeowner will normally receive a net payment from the utility on an annual basis even if they operate and electric car that is charged at home. 
2. By adding electricity back to the grid, the homeowner provides renewable energy that often displaces energy generated with fossil fuels.  This results in a reduction in greenhouse gases with a corresponding benefit to climate change.
3. In some areas, the peak electric demand occurs on hot summer days when air conditioning loads are high.  This often occurs during sunlit daytime hours when you are feeding electricity back to the grid.  By reducing the peak utility load, you are helping your electric utility assure that the grid does not experience disruptions during peak demand.

What are the Drawbacks of Net Metering?

1. Net metering may not always be offered.  Programs vary by State and by the electric utility provider. 
2. The rules governing the value of your electricity provided back to the grid can be complex and may vary with time.
3. The value of an SREC varies by State, region, and over time.  At the time of this writing, SRECs in the mid-Atlantic region had a value ranging from $30.00 to more than $400. per megawatt hour.
4. SRECs are not available in all states.  New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia have SREC programs as of 1/1/2025.

What are Solar Renewable Energy Credits?

1. When you own a solar home, you are able to sell Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for each Megawatt Hour of electricity that you generate. 
2. SRECs can be sold through an open market to utility companies that are required to produce a certain amount of renewable energy under laws of their State and/or the Federal government.  This is in addition to any rebate that you may receive from the utility for selling power back to the grid.
3. The rules governing the value of your electricity provided back to the grid can be complex and may vary with time.
4. As the demand for electricity goes up, utilities may invest more in renewable energy or nuclear energy and this may reduce the value of the credits or may eliminate them completely.