There’s a new buzzword in the green building industry: “Net Zero” and “Near Zero” construction. Homes thus labeled are outfitted with energy-efficient materials (tighter insulation, draft-resistant windows and doors) as well as solar features which enable a home to actually produce energy and, thus, consume less (or no) power from the local grid.

When the days get longer and the weather gets warmer during summer, many homeowners take advantage of the season to tackle long-avoided home improvement projects. Some homeowners need to take advantage of the extra daylight hours just to to handle the season’s stepped-up demands for lawn and garden care.