Passive Houses: The Ultimate in Comfortable Living Just Got Better

Passive Houses, the ultimate in comfortable living, are thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted to rigorous standards, using advanced materials that have been scrupulously selected from sophisticated suppliers across the world. Because of the comfort Passive Houses provide, they are poised to become the new standard in high-end luxury homes. Yet in San Francisco, only one such home has been built to such meticulous environmental specification. That’s about to change.

In 2014 ENU Construction built the impressive Equilibrium House at 4564 19th Street in Eureka Valley. It was company owner Ewen Utting’s first foray into building to Passive House standards, and it was a resounding success, proving that the Passive House concept is not just a lofty design concept, but a superior place to live. Adhering closely to the standards of PHIUS (Passive House Institute US), the Equilibrium House is a distinctly elegant interpretation of the philosophy of Passive Houses.

That philosophy was imported from Germany, where it was originally dubbed the Passivhaus . The intrinsic concept of Passive Houses is that they are built to rigorous specifications using sophisticated construction techniques, so that they are not just energy efficient and sustainable, but adaptable to the environment. This is also what makes them remarkably comfortable to live in, and Mr. Utting has been able to accomplish superior comfort — and sustainability — while also creating a strikingly stylish and contemporary home. This beauty and style, along with the exacting design of Passive Houses — which ensures better air quality, noise control, and water filtration — results in a more luxurious living experience and a new standard of living for the inhabitants.

“The comfort approach starts with the occupants’ senses in mind, and this is the DNA for designing and constructing buildings in the first place.” — Robert Bean, Registered Engineering Technologist in Building Construction

“Of the many certifications that are relevant to green building today, it may be the Passive House designation that carries the most demanding standards.” — Sarita Harbour, on Bob Vila

Now, an exciting new project is underway in San Francisco’s very popular Noe Valley neighborhood, where Utting and his company are about to introduce Equilibrium House 2 and Equilibrium House 3, two artisanal Passive House–designed homes with sweeping bay views. Pete Brannigan of Paragon Real Estate Group will be marketing these homes starting in late March 2016. Along with Mr. Utting, he will strive to raise awareness of Passive Houses as the new paradigm in high-end building, combining the principles of environmental stewardship, improved building practices, and design of the utmost integrity.

“It’s got all these great energy-saving features, but really it’s just about the fact that this home is designed better, looks better, feels better, and is built better than other homes.” — Pete Brannigan, Paragon Real Estate Group

Last year, green building accounted for 20 percent of new residential construction in the U.S., and that number is only expected to rise. Yet, the number of actual Passive Homes in this country is still in the low double digits. Those building and buying them are at the forefront of a future world where homes will be expected to be equal parts comfortable, beautiful, and efficient