The Zero Energy Building Research Alliance, or ZEBRAlliance, was formed this week as a partnership between Oak Ridge National Laboratories and Schaad Companies to develop new household energy-saving technologies.

The alliance will build several homes using new technologies to find which are most energy and cost efficient. They will use a variety of methods, including exterior framing methods, and energy-saving appliances and temperature-control systems.

According to the ORNL news release, Schaad is building the houses at its own expense, and DOE and TVA are sponsoring ORNL to conduct the research and educate consumers.

Read more about the initiative on the ORNL news release.