Residential Net-Zero Energy Construction

Housing is a critical piece of Milwaukee’s infrastructure, with impacts on our economy, environmental sustainability, human health, and quality of life. The State of Wisconsin regulates minimum energy efficiency standards for communities throughout the state according to the Uniform Dwelling Code. However, ECO encourages housing agencies and developers to build more energy efficient housing using the national ENERGY STAR^® NextGen^® standard.

Note: In 2024, the US Department of Energy announced that ECO would receive a $3.4m grant to develop Net Zero Energy housing using modular construction consistent with the New Net Zero Energy Homes chapter of the City's Climate and Equity Plan. However, the Trump Administration has impounded those funds for this project while also rebranding the Zero Energy Ready Homes Standard. Consequently, ECO has pivoted to promoting the ENERGY STAR^® NextGen^® standard.

Working with Energy Efficient Strategies, ECO developed a guide to help consumers, developers, and housing agencies understand the practical differences between homes built to UDC minimum energy standards and higher energy standards such as ENERGY STAR^® NextGen^®.

Energy Standards for New Construction

Climate change
Housing affordability
Human health and safety
Housing aesthetics
Flood resilience
Neighborhood revitalization
Job creation

Zero energy homes will be a significant contributor to reducing overall carbon in the Milwaukee, and a key strategy in meeting climate action targets.

City Housing Strategy

Read the City of Milwaukee's Net-Zero Energy Home Financing Plan funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Homes built offsite in a factory setting

Offsite construction is an alternative solution that can help Milwaukee meet a large demand for affordable housing.

Net-zero energy housing can be built indoors in a factory-like setting. The finished products are then covered and transported to new locations where a builder assembles them. These homes are not mobile homes, but rather a home that is built off-site.

Because the home can be built indoors, it can be completed in a matter of weeks as opposed to months. These homes also do not experience the typical on-site delays caused predominantly by the weather conditions.

Design Concept of Offsite Constructed Home

Off-site, zero-energy buildings offer greater housing opportunities for low-income families by lowering both the cost of construction and holding costs for developers due to faster pace of construction.

One of the challenges that the City of Milwaukee faces when it comes to affordable housing is that traditional construction costs are too high for development in the city and difficult to finance. Because the the offsite housing building process leads to rapid development, high construction costs do not need to be factored in.

Rapid deployment of affordable housing will increase the availability of equitable housing in Milwaukee relative to the current backlog in demand. In addition, zero-energy designs will decrease the energy cost burden for families.

Photo credit: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Designer Dongmin Yun

Workers creating housing in a factory

Another key component of the net-zero energy housing strategy is to create job opportunities for people of color who have been shut out of the job market.

Since houses will be built in factories instead of on-site, development occurs year round. Without weather as an inhibiting factor, workers have the opportunity to continue building throughout the year.

Read the Preliminary Modular Housing Workforce Training Strategy

Learn about Milwaukee's Economic Development Profile for Locating Factory Operations

City of Milwaukee Request for Information - Public-Private Manufacturing Partnership to support Equitable Housing, Economic Development, and Climate Action

Creating Balance in Milwaukee - A Strategy for Building a Public-Private Housing Manufacturing Partnership

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Residential Net-Zero Energy Construction

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Housing Resources

ECO Healthy Homes Guide (English)

Guía de ECO para un Hogar Saludable (Spanish)