Passive House Update – Not your typical basement

August 2023

Very high insulation is one of the characteristics of a Passive House, leading to much reduced heating and cooling costs, but also to a comfortable and very consistent indoor temperature throughout the seasons. At our Passive House project in Brooklyn, we are installing thick insulation even below the cellar floor!

Where and how much insulation is placed throughout the project is determined by creating a detailed digital energy model of the building. We have been working with Ed May from bldgtyp (Passive House Consultant) to refine envelope details and determine the best approach for floors, walls and roofs. When it comes to insulation and existing structures, more is not always better. Too much interior insulation at older brick structures can lead to damage over time.