Mechanic Street Passive House
An Affordable, Replicable Passive House
Project Photo Gallery
Project Team
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 22 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Member
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 22 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Member
Stephen is the owner of DeMetrick Housewrights in Wakefield, RI and a builder with a passion for sustainable high performance building and residential remodeling. He is a certified passive house contractor bringing his decades of experience to bring high performance building to Rhode Island.
Builder
Energy Consultant
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants Member
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants Member
Passive House CPHC, CPHB, PHIUS Verifier, PHIUS Rater, HERS Rating and Building Consulting Services
Other Team Member
Other Team Members
Steve Baczek, Architect
Ratings, Awards and Recognition
When the Hevenor family approached Steve DeMetrick of DeMetrick Housewrights about building their new home in Wakefield, Rhode Island, they already knew that they wanted a Passive House. This young family of four had purchased an infill lot close to the bike path, easily walkable to the grocery store and the local elementary school. They were looking to build an affordable new home, and liked the predictability that comes with building a Passive House—in many ways eliminating many of the big decisions that come with designing and building any new home.
Steve DeMetrick and architect Steve Baczek worked with the clients to design and build a simple three-bedroom, two-bath home which was builder- and supplier-friendly, using conventional and easily-available building materials. The builder-architect team worked closely with the clients from the beginning as an integrated team, and everyone on the project was committed to the goals of affordability and replicability.
The building features Schuco triple-paned windows and a finished concrete floor (beneath which lies six inches of foam with an insulating R-value of 26). Double-stud walls provide room for 12 inches of thermal insulation (totaling R-55). Blown-in cellulose insulation in the roof is calculated at R-92. By keeping the building’s shape simple, the team was able to complete the project for a total construction cost of $300,420, or $163.00 a square foot. As the first PHIUS-certified Passive House in Rhode Island, this project sets the standard for helping to bring Passive House into the mainstream.
Quick Facts
General
Location
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Building Type
Single family residence
Project Type
Zero Energy Ready / Near Zero Energy
Basis of Performance Claim
Verified, Zero Energy Program
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
2.5
Conditioned Floor Area
1,804 sq ft
Energy Summary
Energy Data Type
Verified, Zero Energy Program
Renewable Energy System Type(s)
Ratings
PHIUS +, Energy Star Tier 3, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
HERS Index
32
Net electricity usage (purchased)
5,523 kWh/year
Envelope and Mechanicals
Subslab assembly
Exposed concrete slab with 6" EPS.
Above grade wall assembly
Double Stud wall. 2x6 outer, 3" gap, 2x4 inner. 4" closed cell foam Lapolla Foam Lok 2000-4g, 8" blown in fiberglass.
Door Assembly
Schuco
Air Changes per hour, ACH50
0.02 ACH50
Project Photo Gallery
Project Team
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 22 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Member
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 22 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Member
Stephen is the owner of DeMetrick Housewrights in Wakefield, RI and a builder with a passion for sustainable high performance building and residential remodeling. He is a certified passive house contractor bringing his decades of experience to bring high performance building to Rhode Island.
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants Member
BE Boston 19 Registrants BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 23 Registrants Member
Passive House CPHC, CPHB, PHIUS Verifier, PHIUS Rater, HERS Rating and Building Consulting Services
Other Team Members
Steve Baczek, Architect
Ratings, Awards and Recognition
When the Hevenor family approached Steve DeMetrick of DeMetrick Housewrights about building their new home in Wakefield, Rhode Island, they already knew that they wanted a Passive House. This young family of four had purchased an infill lot close to the bike path, easily walkable to the grocery store and the local elementary school. They were looking to build an affordable new home, and liked the predictability that comes with building a Passive House—in many ways eliminating many of the big decisions that come with designing and building any new home.
Steve DeMetrick and architect Steve Baczek worked with the clients to design and build a simple three-bedroom, two-bath home which was builder- and supplier-friendly, using conventional and easily-available building materials. The builder-architect team worked closely with the clients from the beginning as an integrated team, and everyone on the project was committed to the goals of affordability and replicability.
The building features Schuco triple-paned windows and a finished concrete floor (beneath which lies six inches of foam with an insulating R-value of 26). Double-stud walls provide room for 12 inches of thermal insulation (totaling R-55). Blown-in cellulose insulation in the roof is calculated at R-92. By keeping the building’s shape simple, the team was able to complete the project for a total construction cost of $300,420, or $163.00 a square foot. As the first PHIUS-certified Passive House in Rhode Island, this project sets the standard for helping to bring Passive House into the mainstream.
Quick Facts
General
Location | Wakefield, Rhode Island |
---|---|
Building Type | Single family residence |
Project Type | Zero Energy Ready / Near Zero Energy |
Basis of Performance Claim | Verified, Zero Energy Program |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 2.5 |
Conditioned Floor Area | 1,804 sq ft |
Energy Summary
Energy Data Type | Verified, Zero Energy Program |
---|---|
Renewable Energy System Type(s) | |
Ratings |
PHIUS +, Energy Star Tier 3, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home |
HERS Index | 32 |
Net electricity usage (purchased) | 5,523 kWh/year |
Envelope and Mechanicals
Subslab assembly |
Exposed concrete slab with 6" EPS. |
---|---|
Above grade wall assembly |
Double Stud wall. 2x6 outer, 3" gap, 2x4 inner. 4" closed cell foam Lapolla Foam Lok 2000-4g, 8" blown in fiberglass. |
Door Assembly |
Schuco |
Air Changes per hour, ACH50 | 0.02 ACH50 |