From http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/why-insulation-and-good-design-beats-green-gizmos.html

 in Passivhaus, you want to put in so much insulation and such high quality windows that you barely need to heat or cool at all, minimizing energy use; In Net Zero, you want to generate enough power on site to heat, cool and light your house; it could be a draughty barn,

OK, with the proviso that the cost (actual and environmental) of creating an insulated and well sealed house is sensible, this gives a long term resilient property, that should be liveable  even if the power generation systems fail.

I’m with the bias being a super insulated and sealed house first and then minimum tech to supply on-site power (elec and heating).