The zero energy home is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy, first developed by its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and made commercially viable. A Zero energy home or ZEH is built using state-of-the-art technology and equipment to minimize energy consumption. Though it draws from the power grid, the ZEH also produces energy. On an annual basis, the ZEH produces around the same amount of energy it takes from the power grid – resulting in a net or zero annual energy bill.