Global sustainable communities handbook: green design technologies and economics / Woodrow W. Clark II (ed.). Chapter 10 – Financial investments for zero energy houses: the case of near-zero energy buildings

Abstract

This chapter describes the concept of near-zero energy buildings and the importance of financial investments to renovate residential buildings. A case study estimates the investments and makes a financial evaluation of renovation intended to turn a detached house into a near-zero energy house in Denmark and how this can apply to other Baltic nations. It shows the investment efficiency and the values of such indicators as simple payback time, return of investments, net present value, and internal rate of return expected when the house in question turns into a near-zero energy building. In addition, investments into active sustainable energy systems used in the house models reviewed here have been assessed separately. The chapter also presents an opinion survey of real estate and construction professionals, academic circles, and politicians about the perspectives of near-zero energy buildings in Lithuania and abroad.