Byng Street Passive House

Project Description

This single family home reconsiders conventional wood frame construction to achieve the International Passive House standard. The exterior material palette is defined by cedar siding. BC walnut is used on the interior, bringing warmth and texture to the space.

This project incorporates a wide range of sustainable features as fundamental components of its central concept. A heat recovery ventilator ensure efficiency, re-using heat while constantly filling the home with fresh air. Wood-aluminum clad triple pane windows maintain consistency of the envelope while flooding the interior with natural light, further reducing energy consumption during daylight hours. The house is surrounded by insulation and an air-tight membrane carefully designed to have no thermal bridging. A final ACH of 0.18 (blower door test) is a testament to the high quality of the building envelope and overall construction.

The use of low VOC finishes, low flow fixtures, LED lighting and operable windows further contribute to reducing the building’s ecological footprint. Integrating roof skylights is typically not seen in Passive House projects, yet this challenge was overcome in order to not compromise on the quality of natural light inside. The flat roof is prepared for photo-voltaic panels, which will transform this Passive House into an Energy Plus home.

Located in a traditional neighbourhood, the familiarity of wood contributes the home’s seamless integration into its surroundings, piquing the community’s interest in local materials and sustainable design.