Passive House Retreat

This private vacation residence on the New England coast is designed in alignment with the Passive House standard and combines high performance and efficient space utilization in a small package. A combination of exceptional insulation, air sealing, high-performance windows, and solar gain reduces the space conditioning requirements to a fraction of that of a typical home, using a very small heating system to create constant temperatures throughout and no wintertime drafts. A heat recovery ventilator maintains superior indoor air quality with minimal energy expense. A generous number of south-facing windows maximize solar heat gain in the winter, using the polished concrete floor to absorb the heat and re-radiate it into the space. The interiors of this LEED Gold Certified feature an open floor plan with two bedrooms at either end of the home, a large dining nook, a dedicated tub room, and a playroom loft area for the kids.