‘We can build homes that meet the needs of today’

Joaquin Karcher, a sustainable architect based in Taos, New Mexico, proves that high-performing, carbon-free homes can be both beautiful and affordable. His Zero E Home design is proving that climate-resilient housing is not only possible but also practical for communities across the country and the world.

With the Zero E Home, Karcher hopes to mainstream climate-ready, energy-efficient housing. Built with natural, carbon-free materials, the fully electric home slashes pollution while delivering comfort, savings, and style to residents — all without relying on more expensive energy sources, which contribute to warming the climate and cost consumers more than necessary with the technology of today.

“Too often, sustainable homes are considered to be out of reach for the average person, but this project proves otherwise,” Karcher told the Taos News. “We’ve designed the Zero E Home to meet the needs of the mid-level workforce, showing that sustainable, carbon-free living can be built at the same cost per square foot as conventional homes.”

Karcher has spent decades pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture.

Born in Germany and trained at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg, he has covered many phases of ecological design, from renovating 400-year-old Renaissance buildings to designing high-efficiency adobe homes in the U.S. Southwest. He also co-founded the U.S. Green Building Council’s New Mexico chapter and launched One Earth Design to bring passive solar building principles to life. 

Following passive house principles, the Zero E Home uses up to 90% less energy than standard housing. Triple-pane windows and ultra-efficient insulation keep heating and cooling costs low, while a ventilation system retains 95% of indoor heat.

Even in cold desert winters, residents can stay comfortable without generating heat-trapping pollution by using cold-climate heat pumps — which pull in heat from the air rather than burning fuel — to efficiently provide heating at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems.

Inspired by international passive house standards, the Zero E Home offers top-notch air quality, climate resilience, and comfort, setting a new standard for carbon-free living and saving money for consumers and builders. 

Karcher’s goal for the future is to grow sustainable housing. The modern design and features of the home challenge perceptions that sustainable living is boring or unattractive — laying the foundation for sustainable homes to be functional, beautiful, and built for a better future. The Zero E Home enhances the quality of life and the quality of affordable energy for the health of people and the planet. 

“The future of housing isn’t just about building ‘green’ homes; it’s about making sure these homes are accessible to everyone,” Karcher told the News. “We want to show that sustainable living is within reach and that we can build homes that meet the needs of today while being kind to the planet for future generations.”

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