Passive House Retrofit (enerPHit)

This project transforms a 1950s single-family home into a high-performance residence designed to meet the rigorous EnerPHit standard established by the Passive House Institute for retrofits of existing buildings.

Prior to renovation, a blower door test revealed 26 air changes per hour (ACH₅₀) — a level of leakage typical of mid-century construction. Through a comprehensive envelope upgrade, continuous air barrier strategy, and high-performance window installation, the retrofit reduced airtightness to 0.83 ACH₅₀, representing an improvement of more than 2,600%.

The remodel dramatically lowers operational energy demand while strategically retaining the existing structure to reduce embodied carbon. A balanced heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system with high-efficiency pollen filtration provides continuous fresh air, delivering exceptional indoor air quality and year-round comfort. Enhanced insulation and airtightness also significantly reduce exterior noise, creating a calm and quiet interior environment.

The result is a resilient, low-energy home with superior comfort, clean indoor air, and substantially reduced utility costs — demonstrating how existing housing can be reimagined to meet the highest international performance standards.