CONSCIENTIOUS LIFE
indoor air quality but all PHIUS certified projects are required to meet the EPS's indoor airPLUS requirements. Indoor airPLUS practices
and specifications minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.
Before any foundations were placed strategic
planning occurred to insure maximum use of
the sun’s natural heat and light source. On the
southern facing side of the house sunshades
allow the winter sun to heat the home and
block the higher, hotter summer sun.
What is the cost
of building Passive?
With such high standards and specific building requirements it is surprising that initial
upfront cost is only 10% higher than building
to minimum code requirements. However,
the overall cost is greatly reduced due to the
low operational expenses.
Image: Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)
“The benefits of passive buildings go way beyond mere energy savings,” according to Meredith Marsh, Communications Manager at
PHIUS. “Energy efficiency at this scale means
that with the addition of a small renewable
energy system, occupants can not only zero
out their home’s greenhouse gas emissions
and reduce their carbon footprint under normal operation, but they can also survive off
the grid in the event of a natural disaster or
other crisis.” She also imagines that a small
micro-grid would suffice to power an entire
community of passive houses, and make it
less vulnerable to power outages.
Passive standards are not just for single family
homes. The reduced operational expenses of
passive buildings open up new opportunities
in the affordable housing sector. Following
the recent completion of phase two of the Orchards at Orenco, an affordable multifamily
housing development in suburban Portland,
Oregon, built to meet the PHIUS+2015 Standard, “Prospective tenants lined up around
the block before dawn for the chance to call
home to one of the largest passive building
projects in North America,” Marsh said. This
demonstrates how great the demand is for
this type of housing.”
In the end Passive House standards not only
lower the carbon footprint of a newly built home
but also create more comfort for the inhabitants,
cleaner air quality and long-lasting durability. ■
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INDIANA & YOGA MAGAZINE ISSUE I