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 IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US?
Energy use intensity (EUI) is a common metric used to compare the energy usage of buildings of different sizes. After 1 year of use, we have been able to measure that our buildings have an EUI of around 14.6 kBtu/sf/yr, meaning there is average energy usage of 14,600 btu per square foot per year. The median multifamily building in the United States has an EUI of around 75, so our rowhomes are performing 80% better than the national median. We are able to relay the financial benefits of minimal energy consumption to our tenants, which keeps our studios and apartments affordable.
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.