Passive House is a building standard that emphasizes better wall construction, a tight building envelope, and great HVAC systems. Homes built to this standard are, quite simply, better homes. They are quieter, promote the health of their occupants, and cost less to heat and cool. They are built to the highest energy-saving standards in the […]
What Is Passive House?
Passive House is a building standard that emphasizes better wall construction, a tight building envelope, and great HVAC systems. Homes built to this standard are, quite simply, better homes. They are quieter, promote the health of their occupants, and cost less to heat and cool. They are built to the highest energy-saving standards in the […]
Are Passive Houses More Expensive To Build?
PH homes are 5-10% more expensive to build than a conventional code home, for a number of reasons related to increased material and labor costs. First, PH walls are typically thicker than a standard wall in a U.S. home, requiring more lumber and, hence, more insulation. Second, PH homes use a higher quality window and […]
Do Passive Houses Have Windows That Open?
Yes, they can. A Passive House by definition doesn’t really require windows that open, as there is a fresh air system in the home that is constantly bringing fresh filtered air in, often at a rate of three volume changes of the house per hour. This allows the fresh air that does come into the […]
What Do Window Ratings Mean?
Window ratings are important. Choose the right window for your home. In Nashville, TN, your baseline will be a window with low U-factor (0.27-ish) and a low to moderate SHGC (0.35-ish), depending on your house design. Got lots of shade? Go for a larger SHGC. Windows come in a vast variety of price and […]
How Much Roof Overhang Do I Need to Keep Out the Sun?
You can use roof overhang to govern how much sun gets into your home throughout the year. This will greatly affect how much you have to spend on heating and cooling. In the absence of scale drawings, use a little trig to calculate how big your overhangs should be. One of the keys to […]
Let’s Talk About Safe Rooms
Safe rooms come in many varieties, from tiny steel tornado vaults dug into the ground to full-featured panic rooms with tunnels leading to multiple bedrooms. Let’s design the one that’s right for you. You already know what a safe room is: a room to keep you and your family safe in an emergency. Generally, […]
What Is The PH ACH50 Metric?
ACH50 is a measurement that looks at the number of air volume changes per hour in a home. Currently, this is measured and tested using an apparatus and methodology collectively called a blower-door test. Simply put, the tester installs a temporary plastic front door that contains a large fan. The fan depressurizes the house to […]
Can Multifamily Be Built To Passive House Standards?
Yes, absolutely. Passive House standards can be applied to a wide range of housing types, including both single-family and multi-family housing. Just as there are strict criteria for single-family houses to be considered a certified PH, mutli-famiy can also be designated as a certified PH project by the Passive House Institute of the U.S. (PHIUS). […]