Built using ‘passive house’ design principles, three side-by-side houses in Boston offer little to no energy costs, even in triple-digit heatIt was the open, modern style of the house in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston that first got one couple’s attention: a box made of clear-finished white cedar siding that seemed to float above a dark metal base, with large windows, panels of wood slats and high ceilings.
Designed by Boston-based RODE Architects and built by developer Dmitry Baskin of Passive House Construction, they use airtight construction, triple-glazed windows, a foundation made from 12-inch concrete slabs set on 8-inch foam blocks, and strategic shading to bypass conventional heating and cooling systems.
Still, each has a distinct look because of the lifestyles of the owners. One is dominated by children’s toys and family photos; another is minimalist and spotless; the third has colorful walls, stylish lighting fixtures and a stand-alone tub. Luong tracks how much energy the house is using by the hour on an app and estimates he is saving about $700 to $1,200 a month. This summer, even on the hottest days, he hasn’t turned on the air conditioning until around 8 p.m., when the temperature of the house gets up to about 77 degrees.
The house uses an ERV system to circulate the air to maintain a clean and fresh indoor air environment, while heating and cooling comes from small mini-split style pumps, connected to a condenser outside the house when necessary. Brett St. Onge, who lives in the minimalist house, also liked the idea of being able to control his environment. The 50-year-old engineer at Apple moved back to the Boston area, where he grew up , last year after spending 27 years in Austin, Texas.
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