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Home : Review Topics : Passive House Windows Cost Passive House Windows CostThere is a lot of buzz these days about passive houses and a big part of these energy efficient homes centers around their energy efficient windows. We thought we'd take you through some of the main features and aspects of these modern, high performance homes. Get Our Recommended Window List Also please consider filling out the free form on our site for 3 quality window price quotes — it’s how we afford to provide free consumer information. We’re not incentivized by ANY company and will help you with ANY questions you might have, and help you navigate ANY bids you receive. That’s our guarantee to you! dane@replacementwindowsreviews.co Passive House Basics For the most part, Passive Houses are much more popular in many of the European countries, however they are beginning to find some small roots here in the United States as well. The simplest definition for a passive house is this - a home that uses 1/10th the amount of energy as an average home. This accomplishmnet is pretty impressive and is achieved by using a number of different methods and products (although there are no requirements for what the products must be.)
Passive House CostsMost experts say that the initial construction costs of a Passive House are 10% higher than the comparable home built to code. We were surprised (and I bit skeptical) of this relatively low number. The national average per square foot cost of a residential home is $125. Therefore, a 2000 square foot home would cost $250,000 to build, with an additional $25,000 in building costs to pass the Passive House Standard.
Passive House Window PricesThe typical windows in a Passive House will be custom made, contain triple-pane glass vinyl or fiberglass windows that include top quality hardware, components, as well as having high quality construction and design. Each window will be custom made, based on the location of each window and how best to maximize solar heat gain for south facing windows and how best to minimize solar heat loss for north facing windows. Windows can generate over half of the heat energy for the home. Vinyl vs Fiberglass Windows Heating And Cooling SystemsMany Passive Houses use special types of ventilator that captures heat from exhaust air and recycle it through the home with incoming fresh air. Passive homes often use an electric heat pump instead of a furnace or boiler. The resulting heating use is at least 50% less than the cooling and heating consumption of a comparable home in a comaparable climate. Are Home Windows Eco FriendlyHello! We are looking to replace a bunch of windows that are originals from our 1950s home. We are trying to find a sustainable option so that 20 years from now when these windows are replaced they don't end up in a landfill forever.
[Site Editor's Answer]Joe, I am not the guy to talk to in terms of the eco friendly properties of home windows. Personally, I would say finding replacements that lasted for as long a period as possible is probably the best way to "help" the environment.
WallsPassive Houses use much thicker walls than a normal home. Many PH have walls that are over 1 foot in thickness. The thickness will depend on the climate of the area. InsulationThe insulation used on a Passive House will be a much more than a normal home. Common passive house insulation options include blown-in fiberglass, blown-in cellulose, and rigid insulation. The result is a virtually airtight home that, when tested using a blower door test, is easily 90% more efficient than a normal home. Passive House Window ManufacturersAmerican window manufacturers who manufacture windows that should satisfy Passive House requirements include Alpen High Performance Products and the Kensington Quantum 2 window. Canadian manufacturers include Intus and Klearwall. Passive Ranch WindowsWe are in the planning stage of building a Passive Ranch here in IL. For this we need Vinyl windows with the best U value possible but without breaking the bank. What would you recommend?
[Site Editor's Response]Joe, getting super high efficiency windows and not breaking the bank isn't the easiest of propositions. Well made vinyl windows are not necessarily cheap, although they will be less expensive than wood or even fiberglass windows. The four best made windows on the market in my opinion that offer excellent performance and air infiltration include the Soft-Lite Elements, the Okna 800 EnviroStar, the Alpen 925, and the Sunrise Restorations.
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