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Originally Posted by Higgy
So, are there things we can do to our homes to make them more like this? Or does the house have to be built from the ground up to use all the techniques?
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My understanding is you have to plan and build a "Passive House" from the ground up. A Passive House is super-insulated on all sides and air-tight with air-exchangers which could be difficult to retro-fit into an existing structure. From conversations with an architect friend and an insulation contractor the "traditional" approach to construction in the U.S. treats insulation as an afterthought.
I'm still working on improving my own home, but I doubt I can make it as efficient as a "Passive House".
Here is the website of a German architect located in New Mexico who is designing Passive Houses
Zero Energy, Carbon Neutral: The Passive House Standard
Tim