What is a Passive House?
Active solar
Active solar refers to the turning the energy of the sun into electricity. When we design a project, we make every consideration to optimize the use of solar panels to help make the house net zero. Some people even add extra solar panels to their homes to make them net positive.
Passive Solar
When the warming sun comes in through the windows of your house, that’s passive solar energy. Passive solar energy helps keep your home warm in the winter; all of our designs use passive house certified windows and doors that are perfect for this purpose. Active and passive solar provide the energy inputs that allow passive homes to consume up to 90% less heating and cooling energy than conventional homes.
House Envelope
A passive house’s envelope is the continuous, insulated blanket that keeps heat in during the winter and cool air during the summer. Airtight construction, high-performance glazing, minimizing the use of thermal bridges, and high-tech tape all contribute to creating an efficient envelope.
Impeccable Air
Another key area is the ventilation system. Working in concert with the electricity from active solar, the natural heat energy of passive solar, and the stability of your house envelope, your home’s air exchange system will then trade incoming fresh air with outgoing stale air, and add a desired amount of heat if needed.
Carbon capture
While the other four items address the continuous heating and cooling of your home in an energy-efficient manner, carbon capture is a critical component toward moving your home toward net zero. It can mean things like wildflower gardens that preserve biodiversity, or seeding patterns that allow you to grow more of your own food, or making sure that you have enough solar panels to fully charge your EV on a regular basis.
Active solar
Passive Solar
House Envelope
Impeccable Air
Carbon capture
Passive Home
