Building the first “Passivhaus” in Texas!!

“Passivhaus” is actually German for Passive House, a system of building that sets a whole new standard for energy efficiency in the field of green building.  Passive House, with its super thick insulation envelope and thoughtful design,  is a unique system that results in very little energy needed for heating or cooling–up to 90% less than homes built by traditional standards.

According to an article about Passive House in the New York Times, “America’s drafty building methods account for as much as 40 percent of its primary energy use, 70 percent of its electricity consumption and nearly 40 percent of its carbon-dioxide emissions.”   Even the national standard of green building–LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)–does not effectively tackle this issue; LEED certified buildings decrease energy use by an average of 25% to 30%-a good starting place, but far less than current innovations in building could allow for.

Equitable Green Group is currently building the FIRST Passive House in the state of Texas.  While this system has seen great popularity in Europe, only a handful of Passive House buildings have been built in the US.  You can learn more about Passive House at Wikipedia.  We will be posting pictures and more information about this exciting project as it progresses!