A passive house retrofit?

nancyforarciform • Aug 23, 2013

If you love the idea of having a passive house but also love the house you live in now, is it possible to combine the two? Can you retrofit your house to be passive?

First, a reminder about what the heck a passive house is, per Wikipedia:

The term passive house (Passivhaus in German) refers to a rigorous, voluntary, standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint…It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling.

So, is this possible in a retrofit? The answer is yes. Take a look at this beautiful remodel in Austin , as showcased in Apartment Therapy.

The house was built in 1955, contained asbestos, and it’s now the first passive house in Texas. Pretty damn cool.

Reality check: we all don’t have the money or time to do a complete retrofit. If you’re like me or my friends, you budget, you save, you tackle one project at a time. Some years my projects are tiny. And some years there have been zero projects. And others? Some years the only thing that gets done is a super un-sexy project. You know those projects, don’t you? I’m talking about the really fun stuff: repairing dry rot, fixing a roof leak, replacing a broken dishwasher, and then repairing the floor under the dishwasher. Buying a new furnace, replacing old piping.

The list is endless. And yet – I am going to make a bold statement here – while some of these projects are immune to any Pollyanna-type spin (toilet issues spring to mind), some not-so-fun projects need a different perspective. Do new windows bring some joy? Yes – particularly if your heating bills drop and your air quality improves (with my original windows I could easily smell the smoke from a neighbor’s chimney – while inside ). I would argue that most un-sexy projects can be spun into a little bit of gold.

My advice is this: combine the sexy with the practical as often as possible. Recently I had an opportunity to listen in on a conversation about design decisions that can make a remodel move toward the outcome of a passive house. While a passive house can decrease energy use by 90%, just reducing energy use by 30% would be an amazing coup for your utility bills. Why not consider it given this great benefit?

So, if you are considering a remodel, from new windows to replacing some flooring, here are broad areas in your home where you can increase energy efficiency and perhaps even find a little joy in the mundane.

1. Is your house taking advantage of the efficiency of natural gas?

Switching to a natural gas water heater and furnace lowered my energy bills, and natural gas is one of the cleaner fossil fuels available. As a bonus, if you are considering a kitchen remodel down the road, this will allow you to be ready for a gas stove. Cooks love a gas stove, I hear!
2. How is your insulation situation?

By upgrading your insulation, you lower your energy bills. This can perhaps be combined with a window upgrade, another way to increase energy efficiency. By doing both, the sparkling new windows will distract you from the cost of boring insulation.
3. Do you have an ugly wall in your house that you have been dying to knock down?

Well, you might be able to justify the cost of removing that wall by changing the shape and layout of your rooms. Taking advantage of sun / daylight can increase energy efficiency. This may be the excuse you needed to start a project.
4. Roofing material and roof pitch can both affect energy efficiency.

Asphalt is the hottest, while metal roofs keep a house cooler. And how about this – different roofing material can make your house stand out from the rest of the herd. I like this one a lot, because installing a new roof is traditionally one of the most boring projects out there. But it’s not so boring if the material is nifty and you save money every month on energy.
5. How is your lighting – attractive? How about efficient?

If can lights are not tightly sealed, energy escapes through them. So not cool! Here’s a combo of projects that might work well together:  upgrade your lights and make certain they are sealed, plus check out your attic insulation. Again, the attic insulation isn’t sexy, but the lights certainly are.
6. Did you know that the number of air ducts and their position impact the usage of energy?

If you’re considering new flooring, think abut the ducts as well. Increased energy efficiency could help offset the cost of the floors.
7. Windows and glazing.

This is a biggie. These two features alone can really change the look of your house. (Think: curb appeal!) Also, blinds on the exterior of your house can keep your house cooler, plus change the entire attitude of your home.

The goal here is to get more out of your remodel – more fun, more energy efficiency, more overall benefit for everyone involved. Motivated to combine some of these practical decisions with a fun project? Whip up a great combo of sexy + boring = more benefit on your own? Bet you can.

About Nancy Ranchel

Nancy is an accountant who offsets the practicality of her day job with extravagant and outrageous remodeling projects, often involving massive amounts of scrap metal.  In her free time she can be found dreaming up new ways to turn her house into an art installation, digging through scrap heaps, and contemplating a world without plastic. Check out Nancy’s blog here: www.replaceinpdx.com/

Portland's Architecture
By Anne De Wolf 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter
By Marty Hegg 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
The Harlow Hotel
By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.
Show More
Portland's Architecture
By Anne De Wolf 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter
By Marty Hegg 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
The Harlow Hotel
By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.
By Sarah Crouse 03 May, 2023
Measuring a home is more than sizing and locating walls, windows, and doors. There are many more complex parts of a home that need to be captured in order to set our design team up for success during the design process. With remodeling comes moving openings, walls and fixtures, which inevitably means moving systems. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are typically hidden within walls and between floors, requiring a bit of know-how and experience to properly document, which is crucial for helping our design team to determine the feasibility and cost implications of our choices. Mechanical Systems:
By Sarah Crouse 04 Oct, 2022
Remodeling is an art that requires many talents – of course craftsmanship and technical knowledge – but also creativity AND organizational skills. No other step in the process taps into all of those trades quite like as-built documentation. When we pull out a tape measure, we do not only document distances, but how pieces are put together. Knowing why a post is in a particular location, or noting that a duct bisects a space helps the team document the as-built properly and makes communication during all phases of construction clearer and more concise. While measuring a house might sound simple and straightforward, it takes a seasoned crew to be efficient! Our team has a well-vetted checklist of things to measure and note, in addition to an order of operations that helps ensure nothing is missed and our client’s time is well-spent. Here is a peek into how we go about collecting this data: HOT TIP: Make sure to take breaks and have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Making mistakes during site measures can waste a lot of time, so making sure everyone is energized is key!
By Snow Blackwood 09 Jul, 2022
As I walk to the door of Gretchen Newmark and Jim Gerber’s 1910 Craftsman Bungalow, painted in a pale yellow with cream and periwinkle trim, I notice I’m feeling a little nervous, but I’m not sure why. Jim is a nutritionist who spent 40 years as a professor, teaching nutrition and supervising interns. Gretchen was a dietitian in private practice, collaborating with other health professionals to help people recover from eating disorders. Now she focuses on her passion—spiritual direction. They’ve spent many years helping people find healthy paths in life. I decide my nervousness is just an artifact of this long pandemic as I notice their garden, full of vivid blooms that settle my nerves. My photographer Christine and I mask up as I knock on their door. When Gretchen opens the door, she immediately puts us at ease. “No masks, unless you prefer; we’re fully vaccinated,” she says. We are, too, so we gratefully remove the cloths. I remark on the lovely garden, and how nicely it complements their home.
By Marty Hegg & Sarah Crouse 09 Jul, 2022
Quiz time: which ARCIFORM employee was raised in Detroit, Michigan, has held jobs as a fine woodworker, a stay-at-home-Dad and sailing instructor before his current job at ARCIFORM?  The one and only dependable, often-goofy and incredibly patient Joe Hoffman! As one of two Joes and one of two Hoffmans at ARCIFORM, Joe definitely knows how to set himself apart and make a lasting impression on staff and clients alike.
By ARCIFORM 09 Jul, 2022
Building Trusting Relationships by Design Arciform has been a premier design-build renovation and remodeling company for older buildings and homes in the greater Portland Metro area since 1997. From the very beginning, we set out to be the designers and craftspeople you could trust to achieve your vision. We aim to create a smooth, transparent process that involves you from start to end, and to deliver zero surprises – except the delighted surprise you feel when you see your finished project. For decades we’ve partnered with hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest to bring their dreams to life. We believe that it is the relationships we build in the process of designing for you that are the real foundation of our success. Over time we’ve found that our relationships with our clients are similar to successful relationships we have with partners, good friends and family. They rest on trust engendered by the integrity of open communication, doing what you say, following up, and quickly making good if anything goes awry. So we thought we’d write a little about the ingredients that we think go into creating great relationships that, like our designs and work, endure. 
Fried Durkheimer House
By Holly Cullom 09 Jul, 2022
The ARCIFORM team has been hard at work restoring the historic Fried-Durkheimer House , also known locally as the first Morris Marks House, and the extensive renovations are nearing completion. Recently, we were able to take a look at the progress and talk to project manager Joe McAlester and the ARCIFORM crew about this impressive Italianate structure.
More Posts
Share by: