Passive House — The Benefits to Homeowners are Designed and Built-In to Every Home
Homeowners experience the difference Passive House design and construction provide
Occupants of homes that we’ve designed and built applying the 5 key principles of Passive House, share the experience of a comfortable, healthy, energy-efficient, resilient and durable living space.
Simply put, Passive House is a set of sustainable building science principles that we have long employed to design, build and remodel homes. It’s proven that homes built to Passive House standards use significantly less energy and have a much lower carbon footprint. And that is easier on the planet.
Key benefits of Passive House design and construction
The benefits of living in a Passive House are many—whether or not certification is a goal. These homes are quiet, have healthy indoor air quality, are draft-free and can maintain stable indoor temperatures as well as consistent temperatures longer during a power outage. They use 75% to 90% less energy to operate, significantly lowering utility bills and the cost of operation. And they’re more durable and have a higher resale value. Passive House has even proven effective in blocking intrusion of smoke during wildfires.
In our decade-plus of designing and building homes this way, we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact it has on the environment, both in general and inside the home. See what the owners of our first certified Passive House have to say.
See the difference a sustainably built, energy efficient home can make for you and the environment
Passive House strategies reduce the energy demands of a home regardless of size and style. Remaining energy needs can be met with onsite solar. And that’s only the beginning of the benefits. In future blog posts, we’ll take you through some of the benefits, the Passive House strategies we use to achieve them and the occupant experience in more detail.
As you can see from our certified Passive House projects — Passive House Beauty, Retro Contemporary and Countryside Passive House, these homes can be built in any architectural style. And at no or little additional cost when compared to conventionally built homes.
Designing, building and remodeling houses that are better for homeowners and the planet since 2010
For more than a decade, Carmel Building & Design has applied Passive House building principles to every home we build and are on our fourth certified Passive House project.
While our focus is on sustainable design/build, construction and remodels of custom, single-family homes, Passive House strategies can be applied to any type of building including both single and multi-family residential, commercial and institutional. To learn more about the power of Passive House, explore our blog and link to Passive House Accelerator.
An all-electric Passive House is a great way to lower your energy use and related carbon emissions
While a home designed and built to Passive House standards can include gas-fueled appliances and mechanical systems, the greatest health and safety benefits occur when the home is all electric. Whenever possible, we use all electric mechanical systems and encourage clients to opt for electric appliances. Remember, electricity is the only power source that can be provided by renewable resources such as wind and solar. Yet another way to lower the carbon footprint of your home.
Ready to explore your dream Passive House with us?
To get in touch, use our convenient form or email us at info@carmelbuilding.com.
Looking for tips on reducing your energy use and lowering your carbon footprint in the meantime?
Whether you own a home or rent, here are some things you can do right now. Check out our blog on Home Energy Use Monitors, as well as our Think Big. Start Small. posts on January 23, 2023, December 13, 2022 and September 20, 2022.
