all mechanical systems in our house design have been selected to optimize the tradeoff between energy savings and cost of added photovoltaic (pv) energy generation. the hvac (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and dhw (domestic hot water) systems have been designed from the ground up to maximize occupant comfort and energy savings at minimum cost. using extensive software modeling and theoretical work, we have identified and fully leveraged the most promising sources of energy savings. the overall design of the house has been optimized for the southern california target market, but the house can be easily adapted to function in other climate zones just as effectively.<\/p>\n