Here we share some observations about and snapshots of
the Passive House
we had built in Oakland County, Michigan. All photographs were taken by us unless otherwise noted.
Fiber cement board siding is going up beginning with the back porch area. It is
attached to the furring strips. In addition to support, this provides a
ventilation gap.
The electrical circuit box has been installed in the conditioned crawl space.
Garage and house
Siding
Siding
Electrical service
Posts April 2012 Breaking ground
Preparing the footings
Completing the footing forms
The Passive House standard
Compromises
Footings poured
Crawlspace walls
Concrete poured
Additional insulation
Drain tile wrapped
May 2012 Backfilling and compaction
Crawlspace backfilled
Support posts installed
Framing delivered and barrier installed
Installing TJI joists
Installing the subflooring
Installing the first floor walls
Preparing for the second floor
Straight, Plumb, Level, Square and now Airtight
Second floor taking shape
Attic joists
Roof trusses
Roof trusses and attic deck
Roof deck and overhangs
Fascia boards
June 2012 Crawl space insulation and roof
Made in Michigan
Special delivery
Crawl space preparation
First floor preparation, TJI base
Sealing air barrier
Soffits and tape seams
First floor concrete and first envelope trusses
Crawlspace concrete
Excavating, trusses and crawlspace stairway
Water line excavation
Stairway, window framing
Fiberboard installation
Fiberboard installation and wrap
July 2012 Framing crawlspace walls
Envelope, plumbing
Beginning of wraparound porch
Porch
Porch and ceiling
Wrap-around porch
August 2012 Wrap-around porch
Window installation
Preliminary blower door test
Insulation
September 2012 Wiring, insulation, porch roof
Siding
Siding progress
Well drilled
Mechanical system installation
October 2012 Insulation of inside wall
Drywall and siding
Drywall
Drywall and attic insulation
Drywall, mechanical system
Wood floors and exterior painting
Doors and cabinetry delivered
November 2012 Exterior concrete, kitchen cabinets
Upstair floors, porch siding
Painting, tiling, flooring
WKAR interview, floor finishing
Exterior concrete, crawlspace walls and floor
Crawlspace floor
Compressors, exterior lights, tile
Entrances: drive and house
December 2012 Trim work
Front entrance
Floors and windows
Exemplary results in blower door test
Walkway, bathroom vanity top
Counter tops
Kitchen back splash tiling
January 2013 Upstairs painting
Upstairs painting and trim
Downstairs door finishing
Upstairs floor finishing, water conditioner
Downstairs painting
Kitchen shelf, painting
Cabinetry trim, painting
February 2013 Cabinetry hardware
Final interior painting
First Holly Passive House Conference
March 2013 Certificate of Occupancy
Home
December 2013 Settled in
January 2014 Winter storm
February 2014 Winter
Snowshoeing
April 2014 Habitat restoration
May 2014 May
August 2015 Energy
February 2017 Life in a Passive House
December 2017 Are passive homes the future?
May 2019 Meanwhile, at the beaver dam
July 2020 Geothermal
March 2023 Ten years
Links of interest
G • O Logic
Energy Wise Homes
J F Shewchuck Construction
Bostwick Excavating
Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction
Northern Michigan Hardwoods
RTM Heating & Cooling
Bach Electric
GoldStar Hardwood
Randy Lalone Well Drilling
Nu•Wool Premium Cellulose Insulation
Weaver Tile
Passive House Academy
Pro Trees Unlimited
MPC Cashway Lumber
Lumbermen’s Inc
Spartan Painting
Reynolds Water Conditioning, Co.
Zehnder
Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating
Young Supply
PlantWise
Forbes article
Fine Homebuilding
Proud Green Home article
WKAR article
Green Building Advisor article
Maura Jung and Matt O'Malia discuss house
Various images