Westchester Passive House Renovation
This home in Ossining, New York was an abandoned house. The homeowners were looking for a place to call their forever home that was close to town, had access to sidewalks, and was in a neighborhood where they could truly live in community with their neighbors. When Emily saw this home she knew she had found a house that needed her. She saw an opportunity not only to save the structure but to make it into a lean, green, living machine! Through the design process the team developed a vision for the project that includes:
· A super energy efficient envelope, meeting Passive House standards for high insulation and low air infiltration
· An all-electric house that can use current and future alternative fuel sources and could someday be fully self-powered
· A small Air Source Heat Pump HVAC system facilitated by a great envelope that reduces the need for heating and cooling
· A high efficiency ERV to ensure tempered fresh air and optimized indoor air quality
· Rain Barrel Water Collection to care for plants without using municipal drinking water
· A yard filled with wild flowers as a pollinator-friendly and eco-friendly alternative to grass lawn
· A green roof to grow vegetables, reduce the burden of water runoff on the city’s infrastructure, and provide more outdoor living space on a compact lot
· No VOC, No Formaldehyde, and Forest Service Certified finish materials to ensure a healthy indoor environment and protect the global environment
· Potential one story accessible living that will accommodate aging within the community
Certification goals:
· Passive House Version 2018
· HERS Score <10
· Energy Star Version 3.1
· Indoor AirPLUS
· DOE Zero Energy Home
