Project Description:
The goal of the Midtown Passive House project was to design to the Passive House standard and achieve certification from PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) for the production home builder Brookfield Homes. Brookfield Homes' objective was to offer this passive house as an energy efficient upgrade option to their existing base plans offered at the Midtown development. The fundamental design principles of the Passive House standard include continuous insulation, thermal bridge free construction, air tightness, and thermal comfort through balanced ventilation, heat recovery, and a minimal space conditioning system. As the Certified Passive House Consultant, Nathan St.Germain worked with Brookfield Homes to achieve the first Certified Passive House in the state of Colorado. It is also the first Certified Passive House built by a production home builder in the United States. The Midtown Passive House has won Green Home of the Year at the 2013 Denver MAME Awards. It also received the 2014 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Gold Award in the Green Built Home Category and an Honorable Mention as Project of the Year for single family production homes.
Building Type Summary:
Other Awards:
2014 Project of the Year - Honorable Mention
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
2014 Gold Award - Green Built Category
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
2014 Gold Nugget - Silver Award
PCBC
2014 Platinum Award - Green Home Design
Professional Builder
2013 Green Home of the Year
Denver MAME Awards
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Occupancy Type and Details:
Owner occupied
Multiple buildings?:
Historic?:
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Site description:
The site was within the Brookfiled Residential Midtown Development
HERS Index:
Subslab assembly:
4" XPS 4" gravel 10 mil. vapor retarder
Slab edge assembly:
4" XPS
Foundation wall assembly:
From exterior to interior - 1.5" XPS 8" concrete 2" XPS 7.5" blown in cellulose 2 x 4 wood stud with 5/8 drywall
Above grade wall assembly:
From exterior to interior - 1" XPS 1/2" OSB 2.5" Spray Foam 2 x 6 staggered stud @ 24" O.C. 8.5" cellulose 2 x 4 staggered stud at 24" O.C. 5/8" drywall
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Other Software tools:
THERM
WUFI
Energy Modeling Software:
2007 PHPP
Energy Use and Production Documentation:
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Summary of enclosure strategy/description:
Building envelope was designed to the Passive House Standard
Roof Assembly:
wood roof trusses at 24" o.c.
Roof R-value:
Window Description:
Alpen 925 Series Fiberglass Low E
Door Description:
Therma Tru Insulated Frame