RIVER FOREST, IL
This is the first certified Passive House in the Chicago area, built by Biltmore Insulated Concrete (thermal shell) and Evolutionary Home Builders (GC). TBDA acted as architect and Passive House consultant, performing the rigorous calculations in conjunction with the spatial, structural, mechanical, and esthetic design considerations. Cadmium Interiors selected interior finishes and furniture.
Passive Houses have inherently good indoor air quality due to the continuous ventilation and condensation-proof thermal shell, but we took this to the next level by becoming a pilot project for the Healthy Homes Initiative. All construction materials, finishes, paints, adhesives, caulks, etc., were selected to be non-toxic (i.e., no-added-formaldehyde cabinet construction), using Greenguard as a standard where possible.
Completed
2012
General Contractors
Biltmore Insulated Concrete (thermal shell)
Evolutionary Home Builders (general contractor)
Third-party Testing and Verification
Central Illinois Energistics, Inc
Photography
Hausman Photography
Energy Use
pEUI = 10.8, 72% reduction
Awards
Emerald Award, USGBC-IL, First certified Passive House in the Chicago region, 2013
Press
Chicago Architect, September/October 2014, “The Passive-ist Front”
West Suburban Living, May 2015, “Eco-Friendly Living: Live healthier and save money with a green-built home”
Dwell, August 2013, “Sustainable Living: Chicago’s First Certified Passive House”