{"id":20568,"date":"2020-12-29T11:29:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T19:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=20568"},"modified":"2024-03-12T12:15:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T19:15:17","slug":"buyer-what-is-a-passive-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-a-passive-house\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Passive House, And Are They Worth It for Buyers? A Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Even if television shows like <em>The Jetsons<\/em> aired well before your time, we can all appreciate the science-fiction fantasy of a house that costs very little to heat or cool, repurposes its own energy and resources in sustainable ways &#8230; and cleans itself with a robot. You&#8217;ll need a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irobot.com\/en_US\/roomba.html\">Roomba<\/a> to make that final part of the dream come (partially) true, but there&#8217;s a type of home that&#8217;s practically Jetsons-like in its attention to conservation and efficiency. It&#8217;s called a passive house.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/environmental-topics\/greener-living\">sustainable living<\/a> continues to be an important topic of discussion in the United States, homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to make their homes more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-green-home-improvements\/\">energy efficient<\/a>. Saving money on utility bills and enjoying a more comfortable living environment are rewarding personal advantages, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldgbc.org\/benefits-green-buildings\">benefits of a green home<\/a> extend far beyond one\u2019s own front door.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve not yet heard of a <a href=\"https:\/\/passipedia.org\/basics\/what_is_a_passive_house\">passive house<\/a>, you\u2019ll be forgiven. This type of home \u2014 built to a rigorous standard of construction to maximize energy efficiency \u2014 is widely embraced in Europe, though awareness is still growing in the United States. In this article, we\u2019re going to explore what a passive house is, and speak with experts to understand the principles of passive house design and what it\u2019s like to live in one.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s jump in.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20576\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20576\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"You first have to understand what is a passive house\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-understand.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20576\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Radovan1 \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What is a passive house?<\/h2>\n<p>As defined by <a href=\"https:\/\/passipedia.org\/start\">Passipedia<\/a>, a passive house is \u201ca building standard that is truly energy efficient, comfortable, and affordable at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phius.org\/what-is-passive-building\/the-history-of-passive-houses\">history of passive homes<\/a> is traceable to the 1980s. A German physicist and a Swedish scientist later developed the metrics for what would become the gold standard of passive buildings; and the <a href=\"https:\/\/passivehouse.com\/01_passivehouseinstitute\/01_passivehouseinstitute.htm\">Passive House Institute<\/a>, founded in 1996 in Darmstadt, Germany, remains the authority on passive construction principles.<\/p>\n<p>These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phius.org\/what-is-passive-building\/passive-house-principles\">principles<\/a>, which we\u2019ll elaborate on shortly, include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An airtight building <a href=\"https:\/\/energyeducation.ca\/encyclopedia\/Building_envelope\">envelope<\/a><\/li>\n<li>A ventilation system that balances heat and moisture management<\/li>\n<li>High-performance windows and doors<\/li>\n<li>Continuous insulation throughout the envelope, with no <a href=\"https:\/\/passipedia.org\/basics\/building_physics_-_basics\/thermal_bridges\/thermal_bridge_definition\">thermal bridging<\/a><\/li>\n<li>A minimal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycodes.gov\/technical-assistance\/faqs\/what-are-space-conditioning-types\">space conditioning system<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Because passive homes are achieved through construction technique, the term \u201cpassive house\u201d is arguably limiting \u2014 nearly any type of building can be passive, from single-family homes to skyscrapers.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, passive is an <a href=\"https:\/\/passivehouse-international.org\/index.php?page_id=238\">open-source concept<\/a>, not a brand. There are no requirements for certification or permission from any one organization to build a house to passive standards; the approach is beautifully generic.<\/p>\n<h2>Passive construction principles<\/h2>\n<p>The objective of a passive house is to optimize efficiency, which is why the <a href=\"https:\/\/passivehouse-international.org\/index.php?page_id=150\">criteria<\/a> for construction are so important.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a set of principles that puts conservation first to reduce the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool a building to measurable comfort levels,\u201d explains Michael Knezovich, the Communications Director at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phius.org\/home-page\">Passive House Institute U.S.<\/a> (PHIUS).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPassive construction focuses on heating and cooling, but as it has evolved, it\u2019s become sort of a tool in the toolbox of people who are trying to achieve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldgbc.org\/thecommitment\">net-zero buildings<\/a>,\u201d explains Knezovich.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt lowers the baseline of how much energy is needed from renewables to a point where it\u2019s much more practical to hit zero.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The design of a new passive home begins with consideration for how the building should be positioned in order to capitalize on natural sun and shade exposure, and the attention to detail only strengthens from there.<\/p>\n<h3>Airtightness<\/h3>\n<p>The most crucial element of a passive house is its airtight construction. A truly passive building will have fewer than 0.6 <a href=\"https:\/\/learnmetrics.com\/air-changes-per-hour-calculator-and-formula\/\">air changes per hour<\/a> (ACH), meaning that there are no air leaks and no drafts near windows or doors.<\/p>\n<p>Passive houses are so thoroughly insulated and well-sealed that they\u2019re able to make use of internal heat sources, including the warmth emitted from appliances. (Bet you\u2019ve never thought of your refrigerator as a way to warm your kitchen\u2019s tile floors!)<\/p>\n<h3>Ventilation<\/h3>\n<p>An airtight building needs proper ventilation to ensure air quality and protect against moisture damage. Passive homes use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecohome.net\/guides\/2276\/choosing-between-an-hrv-and-an-erv\/\">heat recovery ventilator<\/a> (HRV) to continuously circulate fresh, filtered air while capturing and <a href=\"https:\/\/passivehousebuildings.com\/books\/phc-2019\/five-principles-of-passive-house-design-and-construction\/\">retaining at least 75%<\/a> of heat from the exhaust air.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVentilation in a passive building is very intentionally executed,\u201d says Knezovich. \u201cThere is a low level of ventilation running continuously, with fresh air circulating and equal amounts of air leaving and coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The result of this mechanical ventilation is efficient heat retention and excellent indoor air quality year-round.<\/p>\n<h3>Windows<\/h3>\n<p>Passive houses use ultra-high-performance glazing systems to ensure an airtight seal. Windows are double- or even triple-paned, are framed in nonconductive materials, and may be filled with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nachi.org\/window-gas-fills.htm#:~:text=Argon%20and%20krypton%20are%20the,%2C%20inert%2C%20clear%20and%20odorless.\">insulating gas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Quality window construction allows passive homes to optimize solar energy. Since it is, however, possible to have too much of a good thing, passive buildings are often equipped with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ersshading.com\/rolling-exterior-shutters\">exterior rolling blinds<\/a>, which lower and raise at the flip of a switch to block out heat and excess light.<\/p>\n<h3>No thermal bridging<\/h3>\n<p>Knezovich explains a thermal bridge as \u201canything that protrudes from the inside to the outside and can conduct energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.schoeck.co.uk\/en-gb\/structural-thermal-bridges#:~:text=Some%20thermal%20bridges%20can%20be,that%20penetrate%20the%20insulating%20layer.\">Examples of thermal bridging<\/a> can include anything from a window-mounted air conditioning unit to insulation-breaching anchor bolts.<\/p>\n<p>Thermal bridges allow warm air to escape, effectively breaking the seal of a building\u2019s envelope and making it less efficient.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s relatively easy to avoid thermal bridging when designing a new building; it\u2019s harder to mitigate on a retrofit,\u201d says Knezovich.<\/p>\n<h3>Minimal space conditioning<\/h3>\n<p>Because passive houses are so efficient, it\u2019s easy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature no matter the season. Savings on heating and cooling costs can be <a href=\"https:\/\/passipedia.org\/\">as high as 90%<\/a> compared to conventionally built homes, since passive buildings use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovoenergy.com\/guides\/energy-guides\/passive-house.html#:~:text=A%20Passivhaus%20needs%20just%2015,(15%20kWh%2Fm2a).\">just 15 kWh<\/a> of heating energy per 10 square feet per year.<\/p>\n<p>This means that a 2,000 square-foot house will only use about 3,000 kWh of heating energy in a year \u2014 compare that to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/use-of-energy\/electricity-use-in-homes.php\">U.S. average<\/a> of 12,000 kWh per year!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20582\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20582\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Living in what is a passive house is different than other houses\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-living.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20582\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Radovan1 \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Passive house living<\/h2>\n<p>Life in a passive building is nothing short of pleasant. Air quality is high, temperature variation is minimal, and because they\u2019re so well-insulated, passive homes tend to be very quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, there\u2019s that nice little perk of saving cash on heating and cooling costs. Utility bills are more stable and predictable, and so are your day-to-day living conditions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an older house, heat escapes from joints in the building, so you often get colder places near the windows, you may have certain rooms that are colder than others; in a passive house that is very airtight with mechanical ventilation, you\u2019re getting that air continuously moved around, and the house remains at a more constant temperature,\u201d says Isabel Beattie, director of strategy and development for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beattiepassive.com\/\">Beattie Passive<\/a>, a passive building company based in Norwich, England.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can walk around in shorts and a T-shirt in winter because you\u2019re at a comfortable temperature, but you\u2019re not actually heating the house any hotter; it\u2019s just that it doesn\u2019t lose heat so quickly and that heat is being recirculated,\u201d Beattie explains.<\/p>\n<h2>Less carbon, less maintenance<\/h2>\n<p>Another undeniable advantage of living in a passive home is the reduced need for ongoing maintenance and eventual upgrades.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith a shift toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20200922-how-london-could-achieve-net-zero-carbon-by-2050\">achieving zero carbon<\/a>, it\u2019s about getting the fabric of building right,\u201d says Beattie.<\/p>\n<p>Passive homes make use of high-quality, eco-friendly materials. The buildings are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beattiepassive.com\/what-is-passivhaus.php\">designed for longevity<\/a> and sustainability, which means that your list of would-be renovation projects during the years is kept to an absolute minimum. There\u2019s no need for upgrades or retrofitting to improve comfort or efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, passive houses perform best when you simply leave them alone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople shouldn\u2019t fiddle or turn off the mechanical ventilation system,\u201d Beattie advises.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cPassive houses perform very well if you don\u2019t mess with them; they\u2019re set up to do their job very well.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The only real required maintenance is changing the filters in the ventilation system, which is an easy task since most systems used in passive homes will tell you when the filter is due for cleaning or replacing. How often this is required will vary \u2014 if you\u2019re a heavy indoor smoker, you\u2019ll likely need to change the filter every three months \u2014 but under average living conditions, once every six to eight months is realistic.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20583\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20583\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"It is possible to retrofit your house into what is a passive house\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-retrofit.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Nagy-Bagoly Arpad \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Passive retrofitting<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re intrigued by the benefits of passive house living but aren\u2019t so keen on the idea of giving up your existing home to build something completely new \u2026 well, that\u2019s understandable.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that it is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beattiepassiveretrofit.com\/index.php\">possible to retrofit<\/a> most buildings to bring them up to passive standards. Doing so requires:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improving \u2014 or possibly replacing \u2014 a home\u2019s envelope to remove thermal bridges<\/li>\n<li>Installing a suitable ventilation system<\/li>\n<li>Replacing the windows (and maybe doors)<\/li>\n<li>Potentially upgrading or removing current heating and cooling systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Due to the need for an airtight envelope, passive retrofitting works best when the whole building is involved. This is no problem for a single-family home, but if you live in a townhouse, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-a-condo\/\">condominium<\/a>, or another type of multi-unit space, you\u2019ll be faced with the task of getting the other property owner(s) on board with the idea.<\/p>\n<p>If your home is part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-an-hoa\/\">homeowner\u2019s association<\/a>, you may also need to seek approval to complete your passive retrofit project, as the exterior of the home will likely have visual changes.<\/p>\n<p>Passive retrofitting can be expensive, but the efforts can add to your home\u2019s value, in addition to giving you the great lifestyle and environmental benefits we\u2019ve discussed. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about what it would take to retrofit your home, PHIUS has a comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phius.org\/find-a-professional\/find-a-phius-certified-builder\">list of passive builders<\/a> to help you get started.<\/p>\n<h2>Buying a passive \u2014 or closer-to-passive \u2014 house<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re in the market for a new home, this is a great opportunity to pursue a passive house. Particularly if your timeline allows for the construction of a new-build, you can experience the ground-up design process and make your passive home truly your own.<\/p>\n<p>Again, PHIUS is a great resource for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phius.org\/find-a-professional\">finding a passive contractor<\/a> in your state, and websites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenhomesforsale.com\/\">GreenHomesforSale.com<\/a> specialize in listing environmentally friendly properties around the United States and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>New construction isn\u2019t always feasible, and finding a truly passive house for sale may be tricky depending on your location, but you can still make the most of your search and seek out an eco-friendly home. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-real-estate-agents\/buying\">Working with an experienced agent<\/a> who can help you find sustainable properties in your city is a great strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Homes built within the past few years will often have sustainability at the forefront of their planning, and older homes will likely have undergone upgrades and renovations to keep up with buyer preferences.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t see any new construction here in the Bay Area that is not focused on energy efficiency,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/rick-fuller-ca-01375683\">Rick Fuller<\/a>, a top agent in the San Francisco, California area; he works with 74% more single-family homes than the average agent in his area.<\/p>\n<p>Fuller has seen the demand for efficient homes increase dramatically \u2014 and with it, home values.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne home that\u2019s not energy-efficient might require upgrading the windows, might require replacing an old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-with-a-pool\/\">pool pump<\/a> with a variable speed pump, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/should-i-buy-new-appliances-before-selling-house\/\">replacing old appliances<\/a> with newer, more efficient models. A property that has those things already done provides value to that buyer, and they are typically more interested in proceeding with the home that has those amenities,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>Homeowners \u2014 and the real estate agents helping them prepare their homes for market \u2014 are more aware than ever of the importance of components like proper insulation and high-quality windows for effective temperature regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Passive buildings may not be a fixture of U.S. neighborhoods just yet, but minor upgrades like <a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.green\/all-you-need-to-know-about-low-flow-toilets\/\">low-flush toilets<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/led-lighting\">LED light bulbs<\/a> are no longer enough for a home to be considered energy-efficient. This is good news for buyers, as you\u2019ll likely have less work to do on your newly purchased home to make it more comfortable and carbon-friendly.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you could purchase an existing home that is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/roi-eco-friendly-homes\/\">ripe for renovation<\/a> and move forward with a passive retrofit. As with most things in real estate, it all comes down to your time, budget, and personal preferences.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20585\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20585\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Become comfortable with what is a passive house\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/what-is-a-passive-house-comfortable.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20585\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Ulf Wittrock \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>A comfortable conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you live in one, dream of owning one, or have never heard of a passive house until reading this article, there\u2019s no denying that real estate has a green future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoing what\u2019s right for the community and the environment is a high priority today,\u201d says Fuller. \u201cMost buyers want to have a small footprint, they want to be energy-efficient, they want to use their utilities wisely. They don\u2019t want to waste money, and they don\u2019t want to contribute to climate change or impact their community adversely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>Header Image Source: (Radovan1 \/ ShutterStock)<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The benefits of a green home extend far beyond one\u2019s own front door. Learn what a passive house is and why you might want to think about buying one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":152,"featured_media":20575,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,638,641],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-buyers","category-house-hunting","category-find-home"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Passive House, And Are They Worth It for Buyers? A Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The benefits of a green home extend far beyond one\u2019s own front door. 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