Airtight Construction

This 1,100 SF super-insulated passive solar home—constructed to meet Passive House standards—features an exceptionally tight building envelope with measured air leakage of just 0.6 ACH50, no thermal bridging, and ultra-resilient Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls. The airtight roof is built using 20-inch-deep parallel cord wood trusses, top and bottom sheathed with airtight layers and dense-pack cellulose insulation.

ICF Walls and Foundation

Construction Interior View Showing Truss System

Outdoor Living Spaces

A 1,000 SF wraparound deck and an enclosed, covered porch made from locally sourced, rough-sawn hemlock offer durable, low-maintenance outdoor living space, while the large south-facing triple-glazed windows and doors (U-factor 0.2) flood the interior with natural light and frame sweeping views of the northern Shawangunk Mountains.

Energy Systems and Indoor Comfort

The residence is fully electrified and equipped with a ground-source heat pump (geothermal) system for heating and cooling. Radiant floor heating runs throughout the slab-on-grade home, while an air-source heat pump provides domestic hot water. A high-efficiency Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system delivers continuous fresh air for superior indoor air quality. Smart-home features, including Lutron lighting controls, enhance comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency.

Aging in Place and Well-Being

Designed with the future in mind, this residence supports aging in place with a single-level floor plan, low-maintenance materials, and easy-to-navigate spaces. The home’s radiant floor heating, superior indoor air quality, passive solar gain, and abundant natural light all contribute to a profound sense of comfort, well-being, and healthful living. Every element—from the envelope to the energy systems—was chosen to enhance daily life while reducing environmental impact, offering a nurturing and stable home for decades to come.

Certifications and Mission

Certified to the highest national performance standards—including DOE Zero Energy Ready, LEED for Homes Gold, EPA Indoor airPLUS, ENERGY STAR, and NYSERDA’s Carbon Neutral standard—this home is a model of climate-conscious residential architecture and construction. It reflects our firm’s mission to create inspiring buildings that heal the planet, enhance well-being, and honor future generations.