Green Project of the Week: Spring Valley Passive House
The Spring Valley Passive House in Ossining, New York, is a 3,585-square-foot custom home built by mechanical engineer Daniel Colombini. After determining that retrofitting a drafty 1930s house wouldn’t meet his family’s comfort and efficiency needs, Colombini opted for a complete rebuild. The new home achieved multiple certifications, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home, LEED Platinum, and Passive House standards, making it one of the first in New York State to attain all three. It also earned a 2024 DOE Housing Innovation Grand Award .?
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The home’s design emphasizes energy efficiency and sustainability. It features a highly insulated building envelope with double-stud walls, triple-pane windows, and an unvented insulated attic. A 13.2 kW rooftop photovoltaic system paired with 32 kWh of battery storage allows the home to achieve a HERS Index of -9, indicating it produces more energy than it consumes. Additional features include an all-electric HVAC system, heat pump water heater, energy recovery ventilator with MERV 13 filters, and provisions for electric vehicle charging. Colombini estimates that achieving DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification added less than 5% to the construction costs compared to standard building practices .?
Beyond energy performance, the home offers exceptional indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Homeowners reported minimal energy bills and a significant reduction in allergy-related issues, attributing these benefits to the home’s airtight construction and advanced ventilation system. The project also prioritized sustainability by reusing 75% of materials from the original structure and incorporating salvaged lumber into the new build. This approach not only minimized waste but also contributed to the home’s unique character and environmental responsibility