Craig Kvien, a professor of crop and soil sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, received $72,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help spur the construction of more energy efficient homes in Georgia. Researchers will work with administrators in the USDA Rural Development’s Housing Program to develop plans, material lists and to provide technical assistance for construction of new homes. These homes will be modest in cost, yet functional, comfortable, low maintenance and highly energy efficient. The ultimate goal is to make each home a “net zero” building, meaning that the total amount of energy used by the building is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on site.