Design Strategies for a Cost-Effective Passive House

Sanyog Rathod and Carl Sterner recently presented a webinar for Phius (Passive House Institute U.S.), where they outlined strategies for designing a cost-effective single-family Passive House, based on Sol's experience both designing and certifying Passive House homes of various scales. The webinar is free to watch online, here: https://www.phius.org/design-s...

The cost-effective strategies discussed in the presentation include:

• Early analysis, in order to determine what's driving energy use, and adjust the design accordingly while it is still cost-effective to do so.
• Compact building form and simplicity of construction, including identifying wall and roof assemblies early in order to create simple, clean, high-performance details.
• Efficient interior layout, to minimize interior fitout costs, and simplify plumbing and ductwork -- which saves energy while reducing cost.
• Productive windows and shading: if used carefully, glass can be an energy benefit rather than a liability, but care must be taken to avoid summertime overheating.
• Collaboration with local builders to identify cost-effective assemblies and materials. The most cost-effective assemblies can vary based upon material availability and builder expertise.
• Simple HVAC systems, likewise based on local availability and expertise.
• Judicious use of interior finishes, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, which can account for nearly 30% of the cost of a typical home.

The presentation draws on two houses designed for the same client: the Country Nest, an earth-bermed home constructed from ICF, and the Iowa City Nest, a wood-framed certified Passive House on an infill lot in Iowa City.