People deserve to have a comfortable home where they’re not spending all of their money on utilities,” explains Lauren Shadid, owner and principal of Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors. As one of the few Passive House Certified Designers in Colorado, Lauren understands the importance of creating a building or home that makes people feel safe while lowering efficiency costs.
“One of the benefits of Passive House design is keeping outdoor pollutants such as pollution, pollens, and smoke out of the building. An added benefit beyond occupant health is that you’re just using less energy to heat and cool your home.”
Passive House design began in Germany in the early 90s to create resilient buildings for long-term living that are healthy, comfortable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. And it’s not just for homes. The principles can apply to schools, churches, office buildings, and other commercial buildings. The hallmarks of passive house design include high-performance windows and doors, climate-appropriate insulation, reduced thermal-bridge design details, and continuous ventilation to ensure fresh air is cycled through the space. Combined with the tighter construction, these aspects reduce drafts, providing superior comfort and a healthier and safer environment for the occupants.
In addition to healthier living and energy efficiency, Passive Homes are replacing homes and businesses destroyed in the 2021 Marshall Fire. Lauren explains, “Many homes that are getting rebuilt after that Marshall fire are using the Passive House principle because there are fewer penetrations in the walls and roof, so you’re not setting up an environment that’s conducive to allowing embers into the house.” She says, “When you have crazy winds during a fire event like what recently occurred in California and previously in the Marshall fire, those embers can travel miles and miles, so even if the fire isn’t right next to your building, you could still be at risk.”
One of the ways embers enter a house is by being sucked into the attic via vents in the roof or under roof eaves. Once inside, they quickly spread, burning the house from the inside out and causing massive devastation. Since Passive House installs a state-of-the-art filtration system with controlled air intake, it’s harder for embers to enter the home, increasing fire resistance.
Regarding cost, Lauren explains that building a structure with Passive House principles doesn’t need to break the bank. Lauren says, “If you are detailing a Passive House designed building properly, it really doesn’t need to be much more expensive–maybe a couple of percentage points at most, depending on the specific project needs and scale. Often, it can be achieved with costs similar to those of a conventionally built code minimum building. Plus, many utilities and jurisdictions now offer rebates and financial incentives for buildings designed and certified as Passive Houses. This and the amount saved in operational energy costs really add up.” She explains that it’s about being more thoughtful throughout the design and construction process to ensure the home will be as healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient as possible.
To Lauren’s delight, she has found that when she explains the Passive House concepts to contractors and tradespeople, they embrace it. “Honestly, I’ve heard from many contractors that once tradespeople start learning about this and start to implement it, they get so excited. They are often very proud that they are a part of the process of making a home or building so much better and more efficient.”
One of Lauren’s hopes for the future is to educate builders on Passive House so they understand it’s not unattainable or too expensive to choose this more thoughtful way of building. Once architects and builders start using the Passive House standard, they can see the superior building quality they are creating. Creating a home or building that saves the owners money in heating and cooling while providing a healthy environment and resilient structure is incredibly rewarding.
“Ultimately, I think this will make homeowners more satisfied with the product they’re getting and have confidence in it,” Lauren says. She adds, “Your home is a huge investment and one that you want to protect. The quality of the shell of a home built to the Passive House Standard greatly reduces the risk of mold inside the walls and roof.” Many nationwide states and cities see the benefits and have adopted Passive House standards into their code. It can also be a way to more easily comply with code and permit requirements. In Denver and Boulder, certified Passive House buildings are considered in compliance with the energy code.
Lauren’s passion for this architecture methodology shines through in helping people design safer homes. She states, “We spend so much time in our homes, especially now that many are working from home. Ultimately, what’s more important than the health and well-being of you and your family?”
“We spend so much time in our homes, especially now that many are working from home. Ultimately, what’s more important than the health and well-being of you and your family?”