CVF Homes built this 2,270-square-foot custom home in San Antonio, Texas, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.

These efficient, two-story, three-bedroom homes should cost about $80 per month to heat and cool.

Stucco, stone, and fiber cement lap siding, and metal roofing provide a durable finish over the coated OSB sheathing for these Texas homes.

The 12-home community is built around a lower central park that acts as a filtering and retention pond for storm water runoff. Smart irrigation minimizes water usage.

A “smart” recirculation pump minimizes hot water usage at faucets and showers.

LED lights supplement the natural light that floods interiors from ENERGY STAR windows and skylights. The stained concrete floors provide durable surfaces with minimal maintenance.

EPA WaterSense-labeled fixtures save electricity and hot water.

The high-efficiency central heat pump provides heating and cooling through short duct runs located within the conditioned space of the home.

Eight inches of open-cell spray foam fills the rafters on the underside of the roof deck of the unvented vaulted ceilings, providing R-25 of insulation.

Coated OSB sheathing wraps the 2-by-6, 16-inch on-center walls, which are filled with 4 inches of open-cell spray foam.