On November 4, 2024, River City Housing announced that construction is complete for an affordable and zero energy ready housing development, funded in part by U.S. State Energy Program funds provided by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy. The project, dubbed “The Jenny”, is described as the Louisville area’s first zero-energy ready passive house and is equipped with a renewable solar energy system that reduces energy costs to just $25 per month. Reported monthly energy costs are approximately $270 in Jefferson County and $293 statewide.
The Jenny is a 1,200 square-foot, three-bedroom home and was designed to serve as an example for future developments. It meets some of the highest energy efficiency standards with a Home Energy Rating System rating of 11. The Kentucky Office of Energy will provide $18,000 towards the $184,000 purchase price that will make it more accessible to interested homebuyers.
For more information on energy affordability across Kentucky, see the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Energy Affordability Data webpage for educational materials, affordability datasets, and workgroup information.