Passive HouseS
Four row houses, formerly vacant and condemned, have been rehabilitated to PHIUS Passive standards—the highest net-zero environmental standards—creating 16 units for artists to live, work, collaborate, and develop their practices.
WHAT Are passive standards?
“Passive” building comprises a set of building design principles used to attain a high level of energy efficiency:
Thermal Control: Keeps the building warm in cold weather, and keeps the building cool in hot weather. A high performance, thermal-bridge-free insulating enclosure reduces the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable internal temperature.
Air Control: Passive buildings are encased in an airtight envelope and equipped with a balanced ventilation system. This minimizes the loss of conditioned air and ensures a high standard of interior air quality.
Solar Control: High performance triple-paned windows control solar radiation to prevent overheating in passive buildings. Passive buildings are often equipped with solar panels on the roof to push their energy consumption beyond net-zero into a net-positive.
Moisture Control: High performance vapor barriers are implemented alongside mechanical systems which ensure comfortable and safe moisture levels throughout the interior.
source: Quinn Evans
WHY WOULD THE COMPOUND CHOOSE PASSIVE BUILDING STANDARDS?
These standards keep energy consumption very low. This project was the third passive house project—and the first multi-unit passive house development—in Baltimore City. We strive to set new standards for environmentally conscious development as the revitalization of Baltimore city changes our common landscape.
We are able to relay the financial benefits of reduced energy consumption to the tenants, which keeps our studios and apartments affordable.
The passive houses are more comfortable in temperature and noise control, making them ideal sites for the focused creation of art.