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.

Matt Rosendaul of Great Lakes Home Performance and student Eric conducted tests to evaluate the building shell’s air tightness, a key principle of Passive House design. The tests were performed with a computer controlled duct instrument, typically more sensitive than a blower door unit, in a window frame. The results, 0.39 ACH (air changes per hour) at a positive 50 pascal differential, and 0.42 ACH at a negative 50 pascal differential, fall below the Passive House standard of 0.6 ACH by a wide margin. Numbers this low are a testament to meticulous architectural detailing and diligent construction practices throughout.

A thermal imaging camera was used to scan the interior for thermal trouble spots. Interestingly, the warmth left by a hand on the inside surface of a triple pane window for ten seconds lingered a very long time, indicating the strong insulation properties of the installed glazing.

On another note, a new blog entry on the G•O Logic Homes website provides a good summary of the project as our house nears completion.