Acorn Glade Passive House

DOWNERS GROVE, IL

This 1,800s.f. Passive House is designed to harmonize with its peaceful, wooded site. The interior is organized around a large south opening to a courtyard-like patio space; as a backdrop to this opening is a wall featuring walnut from trees harvested on site. As a Passive House, it uses about a tenth the heating energy of a built-to-code home. As a Source Zero house, monitored results show it uses 86% less energy overall including all household energy use and electric car charging. Indoor air quality and occupant health are a primary objective as well, so no-added-formaldehyde panel materials, no-VOC, non-toxic paints, and Greenguard certified sealants, caulks, and adhesives were used along with a continuous demand-controlled ventilation system to provide superior air quality.