flexiblefullpage -
Currently Reading

Valle Group builds Passive House-certified home in New England

Advertisement
billboard -
Design

Valle Group builds Passive House-certified home in New England

Earlier this month, the Valle Group completed construction on the nation’s 24th certified Passive House, located in East Falmouth, Mass. The house was built virtually airtight and is heated through passive solar gain, according to standards set by the Passive House Institute in Urbana, Ill.


By Jeff Zagoudis, Associate Editor January 23, 2012
Valle Group builds Passive House-certified home in New England

Earlier this month, the Valle Group completed construction on the nation’s 24th certified Passive House, located in East Falmouth, Mass. The house was built virtually airtight and is heated through passive solar gain, according to standards set by the Passive House Institute in Urbana, Ill.

The house was constructed for an individual who wanted a home that was both energy efficient and largely sustainable. A nearby salt marsh provided part of the motivation. “He did some initial research on building tight, energy-efficient homes and determined that the Passive House standard was one that he wanted to try and meet,” says Christian Valle, project manager for the Valle Group.

Certification is determined before construction even begins, with the design plans subjected to analysis through various computer models. The programs look for any areas where heat could escape, with the goal of plugging those “holes” and increasing the home’s energy efficiency.

Hot water and electricity in the East Falmouth home are courtesy of a full photovoltaic solar array, complemented by 17-inch-thick exterior walls. Other passive-heating implements include blown-in cellulose and fiberglass insulation and triple-glazed windows.

For Valle, the process itself was the biggest challenge, simply because it was so different from a traditional build project. For example, contractors had to be reminded to minimize — if not eliminate— the number of penetrations through the exterior. The custom-built windows presented obstacles as well, since each required more attention to detail than normal.

Valle summarized the process by saying, “The idea of building a home that is almost completely airtight using traditional and readily available materials becomes an educational process for all those trades that are involved in the construction.”

The builders also included various sustainable products like reclaimed hardwood floors, zero-VOC paint, and recycled insulation, among other things.

  

Related Stories

Custom Builder

Floodproof on a Floodplain

An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot

Custom Builder

3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction

Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction 

Business

Custom Builder to Talk Color Design with Becki Owens at IBS

At this year's IBS, renowned designer Becki Owens will sit down with host James McClister, editor of Custom Builder, to discuss a variety of topics from basic color play in design to the Allura Spectrum palette, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors curated for the benefit of pros

Business

PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'

Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event

Custom Builder

Telling a Story That Preserves the Past

Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project

Business

Defining Outdoor Living in 2024

Residential experts weigh in on outdoor living trends in new report

Construction

How to Air Seal the Garage

A poorly sealed wall or ceiling between the garage and the main house can let harmful fumes into the living space

Business

Taking Advantage of Incentives Through Weatherization

Industry insider Kristen Lewis walks us through the basics and benefits of weatherization

Custom Builder

2023: A Year of Case Studies

A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year

Customer Service

A Smart Home Built Smart

Custom builder August Homes blends efficient, hi-tech home automation systems with high-performance, sustainable building strategies
 

Advertisement
boombox1 -
Advertisement
boombox2 -
Advertisement
boombox3 -
Advertisement
native1 -

More in Category

Custom Builder

Floodproof on a Floodplain

An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot

Custom Builder

3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction

Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction 

boombox4 -
Business

Custom Builder to Talk Color Design with Becki Owens at IBS

At this year's IBS, renowned designer Becki Owens will sit down with host James McClister, editor of Custom Builder, to discuss a variety of topics from basic color play in design to the Allura Spectrum palette, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors curated for the benefit of pros

Business

PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'

Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event

boombox4 -
Advertisement
native2 -
Advertisement
halfpage1 -