Support Us Button Widget

Meet Louisville’s first energy-efficient affordable home of its kind

The River City Housing home is expected to keep utility bills as low as $25 per month.

The exterior of a gray home.

The Jenny has solar panels installed by Solarize Louisville.

Photo courtesy River City Housing

There’s a new Jenny on the block.

River City Housing — a local, nonprofit home developer — hosted a ribbon-cutting this week for “The Jenny.” The 1,200-sqft, three-bedroom house is Louisville’s first zero energy ready, passive house, and it’s located in the St. Dennis neighborhood.

Copy of LOU-Lead Story Image Crop (42).png

Good insulation is a key part of what makes The Jenny so energy efficient.

Photo courtesy River City Housing.

Zero energy ready is a certification given by the US Department of Energy to a house that’s so efficient that a renewable energy system would offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Zero energy ready houses feature LED lighting, ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, and high-performance windows.

Passive building is a set of principals used to “create safe, resilient, comfortable, and energy efficient structures.” These buildings are made to be airtight + well insulated, and use the sun for heating in the cooler months.

Copy of LOU-Lead Story Image Crop (41).png

All the appliances inside The Jenny are ENERGY STAR appliances.

Photo courtesy River City Housing

So, how efficient is “The Jenny”? The numbers don’t lie.

  • It has a Home Energy Rating System rating of 11 — lower numbers are better, and the average in 2023 was 57.
  • It has an estimated monthly energy cost of $25 — the average is about $375.

“The Jenny” is priced at $184,000 and comes with an additional $18,000 credit from the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy.

More from LOUtoday
Skip the grocery store in favor of a CSA share.
The people behind the revitalization of Louisville’s historic thoroughfare want to hear from you.
As the name implies, the ingredients are from nearby Kentucky farms.
Put a smile on your neighbor’s face with these random acts of kindness.
If you recently retired and are looking for things to do, this guide will help you make the most of retirement in Louisville.
From the Louisville Cardinals to Racing Louisville, we’re sharing all details of Derby City’s sports teams.
The U.S. Post Office and Customs House stood in the heart of downtown for 40 years, but now it’s almost entirely forgotten.
The Mary Street Midden Project is collecting history by digging through the garbage.
The funds will help create a new Japanese garden.
From rotating riverside views to a room that doubles as an art piece, Louisville is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels.