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A new home design standard that cuts energy costs by 50 percent
When Joe and Rebecca bought their Salt Lake City home ten years ago, they thought they were in for a simple renovation. That is, until they heard about the new Passive House concept.
When Joe and Rebecca bought their Salt Lake City home ten years ago, they thought they were in for a simple renovation. That is, until they heard about the new Passive House concept.
"Our architect, Dave Brach, introduced us to the idea," says Joe. "We always knew we were going to build a home that focused on green principles, but we never imagined we'd completely tear down our existing house and start from scratch to build a Passive House."
But that's exactly what they did. And when you take a look at the facts behind this innovative design concept, it's easy to see why.
So, here's how it works: The Passive House concept refers to a performance-based standard that can be applied to new or existing homes. The key is not so much in the materials, like those used in most green buildings in the U.S., but in the attention to air infiltration, BTU use and total energy consumption. Instead, home positioning is an important factor. By reducing the size and number of north-facing windows, homes get more heat from the sun. It's a simple idea that can have a big impact on the amount of energy used; a home that has met the Passive House standard will use only about 50% of the energy consumed by a house built to the current national building code. Just imagine living in a house that spends half of what the neighbors spend on energy bills. Sounds pretty sweet, doesn't it?
The Passive House standard originated in Germany in 1996 by two scientists, Dr. Wolfgang Feist and Bo Adamson. Feist and Adamson took many of the ideas developed by the people who built the first super-insulated houses in the 1970s, and then improved and refined them with the help of current technology. The movement has only recently made its way to the United States, with Illinois-based architect, Katrin Klingenberg, leading the charge. Today, only a handful of Passive Houses have been built in the United States, but the numbers are growing.
"The key to these homes is that they maintain a comfortable indoor climate without large 'active' mechanical systems, hence the term 'Passive,'" says Katy Hollbacher, a certified Passive House consultant with Beyond Efficiency Inc. "While heating systems generally can't be completely eliminated in a Passive House, they can be drastically downsized and simplified since the building is primarily heated from passive solar gains and internal heat generated from cooking, bathing, lighting, appliances and, actually, just breathing in and out."
It's been seven months since Joe and Rebecca moved into their Passive House, and they're now big believers in the Passive House movement. "Our house is incredibly quiet and comfortable, staying a mild 72 degrees no matter the weather outside," says Joe. "Even our concrete floors stay warm year round."
So, how do you build a Passive House yourself? Check out the design tools and standards published by the Passive House Institute. And to read more about Joe and Rebecca's building journey, log on to www.ourpassivehouse.org.
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Reader comments (Page 5 of 5)
Looks Like A Old Fire Department House To Me ........
ReplyThe people at Shelterpop should have done their homework. Passive solar houses have been around for decades, not just since 1996. Heck, I even watched Bob Vila and Norm Abrams tout the benefits of passive solar design BEFORE that time!
ReplyWho hires these people...?
Many years ago there was a song about houses that described them as being ticky-tacky, and that they all look just the same. Well, if they look like this house, I don't want to go on living...
ReplyI think a large number of commentors are confusing the concept of a passive solar house with this article. A "Passive House" as described by this article is a certified passive house by the Passive House Institute. It employs passive solar measures in order to acheive the extreme energy efficiency, but it is a whole building envelope system. The idea of using southern sun to warm homes is ancient, no one is claiming to reinvent the wheel - so to speak...
ReplyCertified passive homes reduce heating energy by 90% of a conventional home of the same size. Homes built in the south will obviously require different arrangements of windows and r-values than a home built in the north.
"The Passive House standard originated in Germany in 1996 by two scientists, Dr. Wolfgang Feist and Bo Adamson. Feist and Adamson took many of the ideas developed by the people who built the first super-insulated houses in the 1970s, and then improved and refined them with the help of current technology. The movement has only recently made its way to the United States..."
ReplyTypical, isn't it? Europe is SO MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT than our stupid, dumbed-down country! If this moronic country of ours doesn't wake up and start pouring money into alternative/renewable energy, we will be left sitting in the dark, while European countries become the literal and figurative "beacons of the world." America is being held hostage by the oil industry who doesn't want us off oil and will block any advancement in energy policies - and stupid voters who vote Republican will make sure we remain hostages! The Republicans get so much of their campaign donations from Big Oil and if you dumb voters are stupid enough to vote them back into power, you can kiss your electricity and heat goodbye, because this country can't sustain this oil addiction very much longer.
I can never understand these horrible 20 foot ceilings or higher. What a waste of valuable space. It looks like the garage was added on as an "after thought".
ReplyAMEN!!!! All it needs is the pole down the middle of the livingroom.
ReplyAll Architecture prior to the advent of mechanical cooling and heating is "passive" so I take exception to the statement that it "originated in Germany in 1996".... but I take no exception to the concept. Every house can, and should be, be passively designed.
ReplyMine is designed passive and while it is a decidedly modern house, it is not sterile. This is the most common complaint I hear regarding modern architecture. You can see my house at scotdistefano.com... go to "FoxDen" under portfolio.... and please, tell me what you think.
My highest utility bill has been US$158 for a 2200 square foot house - about 1/3 of what most of my neighbors pay. I have been in the house for ten years.
Can you open any of the windows???
Reply