This paper will discuss the feasibility of a net zero energy house design targeting for energy balance, financial and environmental sustainability from the initial planning to the final construction for Northern China. A residential house as an experimental objective, which could satisfy an average family's daily needs are in Datong, Shanxi Province in China. Dynamic thermal simulation of the indoor environment, house geometries, solar electric and hot-water collectors, appliances are set in the house. After analysis of the integrated performance of the house, a net zero energy building with the best system configuration predicted by hardware and software simulation are validated. Furthermore, the house is precisely energy monitored and energy controlled after construction. The case study shows that the innovation of a net zero building should be considered as a technological improvement and with a social approval by the occupants of the house. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.