This Maine home can stay 70 degrees without a furnace, even when it's freezing outside

[Jilly_in_VA]

What if you could design a house that on a cold day in January would stay at 70 degrees inside — without running the furnace? Or even having a furnace?

It's already being done.

In fact, what's known as the Passivhaus concept came to the United States in 2006, and is being used to construct buildings throughout the U.S.

Maine Public recently visited a passive house in the town of Hope to find out how it works — and what it costs.

It's 31 degrees outside when Patrick McCunney greets a reporter on the porch of his newly built passive house.

He moved here from Philadelphia with his wife, Madeleine Mackell, and their two young daughters a little over a year ago, and the couple says that they decided to build the 1,500-square-foot, two-story New England farmhouse-style home knowing that they would save money on energy over time.

While it was 31 degrees outside, the inside was much cozier.

"It's about 70 degrees in here," McCunney, who is a mechanical engineer, says. "And once you set that temperature the house, because of its airtightness and amount of insulation, it maintains that temperature pretty efficiently."

https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2023-01-25/this-maine-home-can-stay-70-degrees-without-a-furnace-even-when-its-freezing-outside

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Passive solar has been around since the 1970s & it's a shame it wasn't popular

Now they've added heat pumps. Originally it was super insulation, and stone/water/masonry energy storage. Then the industry developed double and triple window glazing, rooftop hot water energy collectors. All of this went down the tubes when REAGAN ended the energy credits on which the industry grew.

You do have to be careful with such tightly sealed houses. Building materials can off-gas toxicity, and building materials need to breathe to combat moisture buildup.

There are Ytube vids with homes in northern US with 6 or 8 inch walls filled with foam. Just no beating the investment.

[ProfessorPlum]

2. I was going to ask about the same thing - don't modern houses need a certain amount of air flow

to prevent toxic outgassing from being a problem

[canuckledragger]

3. It's not just the toxic gases.

Humidity and condensation are big issues too...and need a path outside for airflow to minimize potential issues.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. The article explains it a little

With the heat pump there is air and heat exchange.

70s plywood contained formaldehyde in the glue if i recall correctly. So yeah air flow.

[progressoid]

5. I've noticed a lot more toxic outgassing as I age.

Oh, wait, you aren't talking about gastrointestinal issues are you?

Never mind.

[progressoid]

6. Their designs look nice. They even have a 600 sq ft house.

https://www.gologic.us/thegohome

“In our old home we budgeted $4,000 per year for oil. Electricity was another $1,500. Now we spend maybe $250/year for all energy. Energy is basically a non-cost for us.” - Ellen and Nico

[nilram]

7. No drafts, and they use a heat exchanger to bring in fresh air.

A friend designs these.

[womanofthehills]

8. I live in NM where the sun shines most every day - in a passive solar house

My boyfriend worked in solar and he helped me build a passive solar house - South side mostly all windows. If the sun is out my house will be 80 degrees or warmer when it’s 20 degrees outside.

You can also collect heat by putting water tubes in front is windows. My bathroom has 6 5ft poly tubes filled with blue dye in front of windows - they heat up in sun and keep room warm when son goes down.

[Disaffected]

9. "...room warm when son goes down"?!

[quakerboy]

10. Whats out there for those of us that wish to go the opposite direction?

I love heat pumps. They are so much better than any climate control Ive used before. But they do still draw a fair bit of current.

In contrast to this article or responses, my goal is to keep my house closer to 65 year round. and i live in a fairly temperate area, so I dont want that solar heat. Now that everything is getting hotter.. id like a way to be shedding that excessive heat without using as much power.

[Jilly_in_VA]

11. Heat pumps are fine

as long as you have ELECTRICITY. What happens when your electricity goes out and then you run out of fuel for your generator?

[womanofthehills]

12. I have a small propane heater - direct vent - safe as there is no combustion in room

Fireplace is also a good backup.