Eversource Pushes Energy Efficiency to New Levels
Imagine living in a building designed to be so energy efficient, it uses up to 50% less energy than a conventional building. Eversource has a program that incentivizes developers to construct these ultra-energy efficient buildings using the Passive House building standard which requires minimal power for space heating or cooling. Passive House is a green building trend that's drastically cutting carbon emissions and energy bills.
"As a catalyst for clean energy, we're committed to bringing more clean and affordable energy to our customers and the region and reducing the region's carbon footprint," said Eversource Passive House Lead Brendan Giza-Sisson. "Passive House is an integral part of how we're helping the commonwealth meet its climate goals while creating a sustainable future and new opportunities to save our customers energy and money."
This thermal image shows the surface temperature of a row home during a winter night. The house that appears blue was renovated to Passive House standards, and this image makes clear that it is losing much less interior heat than its neighbors. (Image courtesy of Sam McAfee)
A building designated Passive House is the ultimate in energy-efficient design. It must exceed current building codes and meet specific best practices that seal it from outside temperatures while maintaining a stable inside temperature and air quality. The buildings require an extremely airtight envelope, preventing the loss of inside air and the infiltration of outside air. This is achieved through robust and continuous insulation, air-sealed exterior walls and rooftops, high-performance windows, and simplified heating and cooling systems that achieve significantly lower energy use while improving air quality and creating a comfortable space for residents. As a sponsor of Mass Save, Eversource supports Passive House construction by working with project teams to share energy saving expertise and through enhanced incentives for buildings with at least five units. Building to Passive House standard costs roughly 4% more than a conventional building.
"Passive House will become more mainstream because of the incentives and training offered by Eversource," said Director of Development for Homeowners Rehab Inc. Jane Carbone. "We took a holistic approach to our development on Concord Avenue in Cambridge, and with help from Eversource, this Passive House project, and others like it, will help the City of Cambridge and the commonwealth meet its climate resiliency goals."
Developers who use Passive House must meet strict pre- and post-design requirements, including hiring a Passive House consultant to serve throughout the design and certification process. There are currently 70 Passive House projects throughout the commonwealth under construction or in the design phase. Eversource is also supporting Passive House training and certification for building professionals in Massachusetts and Connecticut to increase the number of Passive House consultants in the region.
Click here to watch a video that highlights a Passive House construction project on a 98-unit development in Cambridge.
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