Great design. However do you have a design where the kitchen has a proper vent that exhausts into the outside or through the heat exchangers?

As a builder who just completed a passively inspired Net Zero Ready certified spec home in southwest Ontario, I completely agree with your statement. The additional costs in our recent build, beyond a code home were contained to the enclosure which included, an excellent skin, lots of insulation and triple glazed windows. We selected durable exterior finishes that are attractive and affordable and chose modest interior finishes that didn’t spike the budget. We are estimating our build cost at most 5% more than our cost to build the same home to code. Ultimately we are able to market this home competitively to the code built options in our area.

All net zero products skyrocket in price as soon as they think people want them. Contractors do the same thing. Most contractors can't build beyond what they know drastically shrinking the pool. This is absolutely critical with cheaper passive house, such as interior insulation. Even done right, these assemblies have a hard time drying and can create nightmares, not only if the shell isn't perfect but if any of your air and water control layers have any factory defects. Net zero homes are much more fickle, sensitive, and expensive to fix. IF you don't want that, then it gets incredibly expensive. Nothing beats taped zip and exterior rockwool. Check the price of that. Ask a contractor how much it'll cost to do R20 outside, and how that impacts the bucks, waterproofing and everything else. What you're saying is oversimplificationand can lead people to disaster

He's using key SEO type words to get the clicks, so that is why there are passive and net zero are put on there. I think his figures come from a few places that go beyond just the windows and the walls. The places he spent that extra 25% to 30% over a "code built home" is the Geothermal system, the ERV system and the solar and the batteries. Those are all "extras" in his pursuit of the home he wanted to build that can bring the cost up 25% over a regular home. Cut or Sub out those items and his costs drop a huge amount, but in reality is paying more to pay less over time for his home. Same as better windows and thicker walls.

I stopped watching him after he tried to justify spending 40 000 dollars on solar panels. Abou basements , it is more comfortable to be in living space above ground, it costs less money to biuld living space above ground and when it is time to sell a house your living spase, in the basement, would be appraised as 50 to 60 percent as of living space above the ground

Ok review- what is missing here is the time of construction. He built his house at the peak of COVID-19, with lots of delays reflecting the increase in cost. Additionally, he used advanced systems that an average American would not use (geothermal rather than heat pump, metal roof rather than shingles and solar panels). I am not saying that his estimation is bang on today's building standards or that his use of expensive material was generalized in his price, but when he made that video, I believe he had good intentions of letting viewers know what was obtainable in his area. Calling out might not be the right way to pitch this video, you could have just made a video updating people on the cost- this is just my opinion. Throwing his name on your title was a clickbait for me. That could have gone easily into your description.

Very, very well done, lots of respect

I enjoyed watching both videos and am proud to say that I am a follower of both channels.

Code built houses for sale today in my area are all under 500k for the 2000-2100 square feet I'm looking to build. That cost includes the land, landscaping, well, septic, electrical entrance, driveway, and everything else that comprises a complete home for sale on the market. The lowest cost I've been quoted for just the passive house itself (all other costs not included) was 850k. I've talked to several passive house builders and continue to hear the marginal 5-10% cost increase of passive-built homes, but in my experience that is nowhere near the truth of what is in the market today. I'd love to have a passive home, but the additional costs I've been quoted would never be recouped in electric bill savings during anybody's lifetime. I've currently settled on building a house that is better than the home I designed and have lived in for 23 years. This will include additional exterior insulation everywhere (this house has none), air sealing, better windows, and an all-electric HVAC-D system with ERV, dehumidifier, etc. Nowhere near passive levels, and will require my wife and I to do a lot of the sub-contract work ourselves, but much more affordable than having somebody else build to passive levels. It won't be perfect by any means, but it's what I can afford. I find it dismaying that I could design and build my current 2350 square foot house in 2001 and pay it off in 7 years, but I can't even start on a passive level house 23 years later despite my savings. Call me frustrated.

He had his home factory built (Bensonwood I believe) then it was shipped panelized to his build site where they were able to put it all up in a few days. Matt's home also uses Geothermal, a bit of an overkill perhaps.

I am glad you called out Matt Ferrell on his costs, it always seemed to me that his house was unnecessarily overbuilt in a couple of ways.

Hey Paul, do you think the same would apply to a post frame building? I have plans to build a large shop and was intending to insulate the shell very well while leaving the interior to be built out as needed.

good call

I really respect what you did here--I am a big fan of Matt's channel (as well as yours!!), and I think you very professionally and respectfully presented your points in this video and provided a very logical and well-reasoned basis that passive homes don't have to be 25-30% more expensive than a regular build. I don't know if Matt will see this, but I bet he will really appreciate how you presented your counterpoint. Good job, gives me tons of respect for you, and I still love Matt, too, and his enthusiasm for sustainable energy, but it is something that needed to be cleared up, i.e., spend 5-10% more to go passive, and provided you live in the home for a while, you'll make that back and then some. Plus, you are helping heal our planet!

Awesome video! If anything, building to passive house levels decreases the amount of complex systems needed to keep a home comfortable.

You cant Dense Pack to 3.5 lb. Density with the 2.5" hose you are holding. You need a smaller fill tube to get that Density. Sit down and let the Contractor explain it correctly.

Double stud wall with two layers of osb? Any reason to not just staple on a webbing and get both stud bays filled?

Water is the enemy of buildings. Large roof overhangs, Rain screens under siding and proper landscape drainage are key. All new buildings should be designed with large roof overhangs. The large overhang provides beauty and protection from the sun, rain and wind. Protection of the doors, windows and siding make for a more durable and comfortable home.

All new buildings should be designed with large roof overhangs. The large overhang provides beauty and protection from the sun, rain and wind. Protection of the doors, windows and siding make for a more durable and comfortable home.

New homes should come with solar panels, a rain water collection system and an electric vehicle charger in the garage.

All homes should be built to accommodate the elderly and disabled. This will be better for everyone. Large wide doorways and hallways make using a cane, walker or wheel chair much easier. Bathrooms or wet rooms need to have flat floors and no shower hump or pan. A flat floor allows for easy access and drains need to provided. Easy to use lever door and faucet handles are easier for the elderly to grip and open. Main floors should include a master bedroom, restroom, shower, laundry and wide walk in closet with few steps to enter. Homes should be designed with aging in place in mind.

Thank you for posting these

Could you please make a video about radon and passive house? Can tight envelope be a disadvantage in case of radon?

I’ve always been interested in building a passive home, but the cost seems out of reach for many. I was recently quoted $350 per square foot by the only passive home builder in the Chattanooga area. For most people, that’s simply too expensive. Given that I have a family of five, we would need at least 2,000 square feet, though I wouldn’t mind a smaller home if it were just me or my partner. I hope prices for these energy-efficient homes become more accessible for the average homebuyer, as currently, only a select few can afford such a build.

Nice design and a great presentation!

Nice video, and your responses to your viewers are very helpful. 👍

Who is this Gentleman ?

I love this company and what it is trying to do, but design aesthetics matter, and having a house that is 85% walls would be way too claustrophobic for me. I'd rather have a home with beautiful views and pay a bit more in utilities bills than to sacrifice design aesthetics and curb appeal for the sake of passive home status. Aesthetics and curb appeal matter when it's time to sell, and yes, being a passive home would be a selling point but speaking for me only, pulling up to a home that is aesthetically pleasing matters. Just my 2 cents, nothing more, nothing less

I look forward to getting in touch with you to figure out my future passive home plans, hopefully sooner than later. Best wishes

I have a door like this, facing south, triple pane, Rehau Geneo PVC, multi point locking. Just like your door. It's been about 10 years and the door has definitely sagged. I'm amazed at this. The two vertical frames are still plumb but the horizontal frames are sagging a good 1/2" across the door. To me that is rather less than acceptable. The glass is still good, heavy as heck, but I'm really unsure how I'm going to compensate for this sag...maybe custom build a steel frame to hold the door a bit more square. Friend has a wood PH door. Same issue.

very nice. what windows did you go with?

False. The residential construction costs have increased substantially. In Toronto, they went 2.1x since just 2017.

My $166k 2001 U.S. house should be around $300k now given annual inflation rate but is selling around 600k instead. Likewise, a passive upgrade to my new house would cost an extra $300k to $350k from the quotes I've recieved. I can't afford that

The pantry is a great idea. I also love the double height living room.The ensuite bathroom looks bigger than the bedroom!

curious what the avg temps are for Ian's region ...looks like Texas?...but Texas is huge, & he could still be dealing with freezes and/or 110f. also, any plans for calculated southern awnings & E/W shading? trees would be great on E/W, but it's a very tall structure, & they'd take a long time to grow high enough. looks great, & self-built is a major accomplishment.

sorry to say, floorplans > walkthru

My workplace is building a 250,000 sq ft building that is going to be near net zero. Geothermal, massive solar array, and as my boss says "we're insulating the hell out of it". This stuff is so exciting

All homes should be built to accommodate the elderly and disabled. This will be better for everyone. Large wide doorways and hallways make using a cane, walker or wheel chair much easier. Bathrooms or wet rooms need to have flat floors and no shower hump or pan. A flat floor allows for easy access and drains need to provided. Easy to use lever door and faucet handles are easier for the elderly to grip and open. Main floors should include a master bedroom, restroom, shower, laundry and wide walk in closet with few steps to enter. Homes should be designed with aging in place in mind.

New homes should come with solar panels, a rain water collection system and an electric vehicle charger in the garage.

All new buildings should be designed with large roof overhangs. The large overhang provides beauty and protection from the sun, rain and wind. Protection of the doors, windows and siding make for a more durable and comfortable home.

Are both units on the same passivhaus systems? Or seperated?

Is there a seperate entrance for the secondary dwelling? I could not tell from the video.

sorry, didnt get it - does it mean the sun in summer time cannot be at the lower angle???

I will take your class one of these times, but I just got done paying another $370 summer electric bill -- ugh, and it's been that way the last 4 months. Once I move to NW Montana and find 1-3 acres, a 1000 sq ft PH, 2BR/2BA for myself and my 2 dogs and I am good for the duration!

Where are you that the attic/roof insulation is not R-60?

Looks like you seal the bottom of the frame to the sill. I know there are weep slots in the frame itself, but most videos I've seen don't caulk the frame to the sill, saying that if water were to somehow get past all the flashing and caulking, it would have a place to weep out. Am I misinterpreting what you are doing or do you subscribe that the flashing and sealing are reliable and leaving the bottom uncaulked actually increases the chance of water entering and is a missed opportunity for another layer of air sealing. I am neutral, but in general like the idea of caulking all around.

Which window manufacturer does Ekobuilt use?

R12 window is center of glass and all other figures refer only to fully insulated elements and not the average of the total assembly, same as code, yes? I wish I could afford a passive house but the pricing is beyond my reach.

What kind of air exchange is there in the house? Are you using an HRV (Heat Retention Ventilation) system?

Its the cheapest way to Build an House Not because of the Heating/cooling cost in the long runn but because of the cheap materials. No bricks or concrete needed (exept the foundation) theres no basement all cutting cost and the next stronger Storm will just destroy the building Amis muss ich euch sagen This Style of Building aint Bad but only in regions wich dont have any Bad wheather