Our PassiveHaus construction project

Design - hurdles - construction - permitting - results

Start Date 04/01/2010

Our retirement home will be structured using PassivHaus standards to the best of our ability.
This should ensure minimum expenditures for power/heating when on a fixed retirement budget.
This also will substantially reduce our homes carbon footprint in relation to other similar sized homes.
We are doing all sub-contracting to ensure maintaining our limited budget and our design priorities.
Pictures will be posted as progress is made, with notes describing what is being shown

Project update 09/27/2011

Building permit applied for - cost was 2885$ to the town -
Septic DONE! - Title V Massachusetts version - cost 33,000$ plus @ 6800$ for clearing and road install.
PROJECT CHANGE FROM SIPS TO ICFs
Selected TRUSS and ICF manufacturers - Cost of trusses is 12400$ and cost of ICFs (10" Total EPS for all walls) is @ UNK$
Footings and foundation, along with the slab scheduled to start April 30th.
The foundation will use Form-A-Drain to make drainage easy along with radon dispersal easy.
Foundation ICFs 2 inches foam + 8 inches outer foam.
The slab will have 4" XPS foam under all slab areas to achieve about R-value of 20-30 for slab heat retention.
I ran the project through RESCHECK for the town building inspector, and it came out at 32% better than RESCHECK requirements.
Septic estimates were about 25% off original sand fill due to increased perk needs according to Nashoba HD and contractor. Costs increased by total of 8000$ overrun.
Will start actual foundation work June 2/3 with leveling and filling, then FAD foundation drains for footings.
Summer has been active - Trusses are up on finished ICF walls. Radiant floor pipes in - slab done.
Sheathing going up now for winter sealing.