Airtight Logic

Using sealed construction and energy-efficient systems, passive homes are at the forefront of residential sustainability

- Troy J. McMullen

THE 3,000-SQUARE-FOOT home tucked away on a leafy road in Fairfield County, Connecticut, has all the trappings of a modernist luxury estate. Polished concrete flooring covers the main level of a residence that has a soaring three-story entrance foyer adorned with a towering 12-foot chandelier. It’s all surrounded by an ipe wood facade that helps the property find harmony in organic textures. Rounding it out are a pool with a lounge and an art studio above the garage.

Yet the home’s most important design features are less visible to the naked eye. The residence is built to “passive house” standards, which means it employs the kind of energy-efficient principles that make it one of the most environmentally sustainable in the state. The term “passive” refers to passively keeping the temperature consistent, rather than actively using energy to heat and cool the structure.

The Connecticut house is constructed airtight, with triple-pane windows for increased energy efficiency and 8.5 inches of wall insulation calibrated for the local climate. The heating and cooling system is run by an air-source heat pump, which further reduces the carbon footprint as compared to a gas or electric heating system and is three to four times more efficient than fossil-fuel-dependent furnaces. A Zehnder energy-recovery ventilation system was installed to remove stale air from baths, laundry and kitchens while providing a continuous supply of fresh outdoor air into the living spaces.