Passive House

  • Advanced building science
  • Unparalleled comfort & health
  • 90% reduction in energy use
  • Buildings at the leading edge of sustainability

Extraordinary performance, affordable cost.

A Passive House combines straight-forward building technologies with advanced building modeling to achieve revolutionary energy efficiency.  And it does so without relying on expensive gadgetry or strange building design.  In fact, Passive House buildings' beauty rival that of any other project: see the Karuna House.

Passive House buildings offer practical, local  solutions to big, global energy problems.  But even more important, they're the most comfortable, peaceful, and healthy living spaces available anywhere.

To achieve this, the Passive House building standard employs 7 principles:
  
   1. superinsulate.
   2. eliminate "thermal bridges".
   3. build airtight.
   4. ventilate with energy recovery.
   5. use good windows & doors.
   6. optimize solar & heat gains.
   7. model with advanced software.

The result?  All heating needs in a typical Passive House can be met by a single 1000-watt heater.  Heat from people, lights, appliances and the sun does the rest.  Our Certified Passive House Consultants can optimize the right design for you.

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Passive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HousePassive House is based on advanced building scienceCompaction in preparation for laying geofoam under foundation of the Karuna House.Passive House superinsulation can be achieved with EPS geofoamPassive House superinsulation can be achieved with EPS geofoamPassive House superinsulation can be achieved with EPS geofoam

News and Updates

Karuna Passive House construction: phase one complete!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

We review Karuna House progress in this video essay about the Passive House, Minergie, and LEED Platinum project.  more...

Passive House builders to train fellow builders at JLC LIVE Northwest 2011

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

On behalf of Passive House Alliance US, Hammer & Hand helped organize a series of builder trainings.  more...

Karuna House's concrete on foam: Passive House innovation and simplicity

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Photos document Hammer & Hand's straight-forward approach to a cutting-edge aspect of Passive House construction.   more...

Do the three green building standards at Karuna House conflict or complement?

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Navigating through Passive House, LEED, and Minergie-P-ECO territory.  more...

Passive House showcase: Holst Architecture and Hammer & Hand team-up to build the Karuna House.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Ambitious project aims for Passive House, Minergie, & LEED certifications.  more...

Our built-in home energy performance gauge – the human body

Friday, September 23, 2011

Passive House's advanced building science meets human physiology  more...

Home energy efficiency, 2011-style

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Building Science: from home performance retrofits to Passive House.  more...

Hammer & Hand’s Passive House Pilgrimage to Austria: Skylar’s Tour of the Optiwin Window Factory

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Skylar blogs about the culmination of his Passive House tour in Innsbruck, Austria: the Freisinger Window plant.  more...

Hammer & Hand's Passive House Pilgrimage to Austria: Skylar's Magical Passivhaus Tour

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Skylar Swinford shares photos & stories from tour of Passive House projects at the International Passive House Conference.  more...

Hammer & Hand's Passive House Pilgrimage to Austria, Second Installment

Friday, June 03, 2011

Sam Hagerman blogs about his impressions of the experience in Innsbruck last weekend.   more...

Inquire about Passive
House projects
by Hammer & Hand.
503-232-2447