Passive-inspired home construction: What you need to know

You’ve probably heard and read about high-performance and passive-inspired houses being built in California and beyond. However, you may still have a lot of questions about what these terms actually mean.

In this blog post, we’ll answer questions such as:

“What exactly is a high-performance home?”

“What does it mean to be passive inspired?”

“What are the benefits of passive-inspired home construction?”

If you’re planning to build a custom home or renovate your current abode, these types of homes give you an amazing opportunity to transform the way you live. Read more about how they work, and whether these types of homes are right for you!

Learn more about passive-inspired homes and how they work

The concept of a passive-inspired home stems from the more widely-known idea of a passive-certified home. A passive-certified home is one that employs a set of advanced building technologies to achieve extreme energy efficiency. To become certified,  , a home must meet very specific energy-efficiency standards set by the non-profit organization, Passive House Institute United States (PHIUS).

Passive-inspired construction incorporates many – if not all – of the same building techniques and materials to achieve a passive home without the certification. This means that you can have a residence with all of the same features, technology, and performance while choosing not to pay for the extra costs and rigors of having third-party certification of your structure.

At Clarum, we believe high-performing homes should incorporate the principles of passive home construction, including:

• Decreasing the environmental impact (smaller carbon footprint, eco-friendly materials, longevity of construction, reducing waste, recycling)
• Providing a better experience for the residents with greater comfort, healthier indoor air, and less noise pollution.
• Creating smaller utility bills due to extreme energy efficiency in construction techniques and materials
• Consuming fewer resources during construction and throughout the building’s life.
• Incorporating current techniques to maximize efficiency and minimize the energy needed, with energy-efficient lighting and HVAC, solar panels, and an airtight building envelope
• Demonstrating smart design, self-sufficiency and renewable on-site energy
• Using natural, recycled, and non-toxic building materials

What are the benefits of passive-inspired construction?

Passive-inspired home construction shouldn’t mean sacrificing quality or aesthetics. At Clarum, we believe high-performance design considerations and building science can be integrated into any style of architecture. And, we love modern aesthetics.

• The passive home is more than just sustainable. It is, in fact, far greener than most anything currently labeled “green,” often using net zero energy for heating and cooling. That means no furnace and extreme energy efficiency. All heating needs in a typical passive house can be met by a single 1000-watt heater. Heat from people, lights, appliances and the sun does the rest.
• The passive home is healthy—for your family and the environment. It is a haven for people with allergies. Nontoxic building materials are used throughout, and because excellent indoor air quality is essential for health, a heat recovery ventilator (essentially a duct-based fan) maintains a gentle flow of fresh air while balancing heat and humidity through smart, vapor-permeable walls.
• The passive home is incredibly comfortable. Fresh air flows into your home and mixes with existing air to maintain an even temperature throughout. Your home will be free of drafts and air stratification, while also maintaining exceptional indoor-air quality. Even better, opening the windows doesn’t affect the ventilation system.
• It’s amazingly quiet. The passive home is a tranquil sanctuary with its nearly silent ventilation system (no blasts from vents), super-sealed joints, and maximized insulation.Homeowners are amazed at how effectively passive homes silence even the busiest street noise.
• The passive home is a savvy yet stylish choice, and a sound investment. By using the most advanced design and technology available, your home will be beautiful for decades to come, and you will not have to pay high utility bills because you use net zero energy to power it.
• The return on investment is significant. People are often surprised to learn that a high-performance home only costs 5–10% more than its conventionally-built equivalent. After several years, the high-performance home catches up, offsetting the difference in initial construction costs (this doesn’t include rebates and tax credits), and begins to pay for itself. In addition, resale values of high-performance homes are higher.

Passive-inspired, high-performance homes offer a responsible alternative to conventional home-building, ultimately providing a more comfortable, beautiful, healthy option for you and your family.

Interested in learning more about Clarum’s approach to passive-inspired home construction? View our projects  and download our free High-Performance Home Building Guide.