Passive Design
A sustainable home starts with a passive design to deliver high performance and comfort for the occupants during the life of the home.
In a cool temperate climate we incorporate the following basic elements:
Natural Energy
Energy Economy
Green Money
Designing a home in a hot climate takes on similar elements however the main focus is on more shading and protection from the hot sun and natural cross ventilation.
Passive design requires orientation of the home on the site with a floor plan providing livings rooms with beneficial winter sun in cooler climates and sufficient shade in summer using roof overhang, veranda's, wider eaves or added options to ensure the sun has less penetration on hot summer days. By using products that work with you to use what nature provides for free is the key to creating a sustainable home. The next step on the path to sustainability is healthy products and wicked thinking. It's the WICKED knowledge we provide that makes all the difference.
Benefits from living in a healthy passive solar designed home include:
The planning process starts with your location to identify hidden issues detrimental to health and soil testing to determine the specific engineering required for foundations and support structure.
The design stage starts with a questionnaire to determine needs vs wants. Material selection is based on your highest priorities and the budget you have in mind. Your home needs to meet your existing and future requirements which is why we discuss the benefits of passive design, energy efficiency, maintenance, landscaping and completion of the entire project to meet sustainability requirements for health, wealth and lifetime value.
Placement of thermal mass heated by the sun is a critical element of a passive designed home. Providing cost effective thermal mass in a home is easily incorporated at design stage with a variety of options available.
Passive designed homes are good for our planet and future finances however incorporating healthier building options is a must for future health of our children and our children’s children.
