California working towards more homes with zero net energy

Fontana, California

AT first glance, Anthony and Vanessa Genau's home in a subdivision beneath the San Gabriel Mountains is like any other gracious new suburban dwelling, with open-plan living space, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

But, along with 19 other cream, taupe and rust stucco houses that cradle the landscaped playgrounds here, it is actually something else: a large-scale testing ground for an energy system of the very near future.