Appreciate the take on my video, but a few things to call out. I did mention one of the big reasons why my house was so much more expensive. What I said was, "It’s difficult to nail that down specifically, though, because of when we built it. It just so happened to be during the initial surge in pricing that we saw in response to the pandemic. Bad timing." I think that's the largest culprit of the difference. Second is I think you misunderstood my ERV issue. I didn't adjust my ERV fan to make up for my issue, but my HVAC fan (my ERV has always run 24/7 at a low level). My ERV is doubled up with the HVAC ductwork that feeds the conditioned air into the rooms (the ERV has dedicated ductwork for exhausting though). There were a few rooms that were struggling with CO2 levels because of the lack of dedicated ERV exhaust, so I set my HVAC fan to continuous as well. Basically, it's a downside for how my setup was configured and my house's specific layout. And finally, I'm frustrated at myself that it came across like I was saying passive homes are expensive ... because that's definitely not what I wanted to imply. There's so many ways to build highly efficient homes that are way above code standard for very little extra cost. It's a no-brainer in my book.
@@UndecidedMF Hi Matt, thanks for the response, as we said in the videos, we love your channel in general, just when we saw your video, we felt it left the impression that a net zero/passivehouse is is still at the early adopter stage… an idealistic type of home with lots of great benefits, but also lots of complications making it expensive to build, not able to be done affordably… In reality, a net zero/passivehouse is one that can be built affordable with minimal 5 to 10% incremental cost over the conventional alternative, and that cost is more than offset with a net-zero net-metering program in place resulting in the home being net positive, essentially a house that makes money. Thanks for your comments above. We understand the pandemic costs increased, we actually built our recent demonstration home during this time as well. However, it didn’t make much sense because any house, not just passivehomes increased in cost the same percentage.. That said thanks for your comments, and will have to look at your book, sounds like it’s a good one ✌️
It's also underbuilt in multiple ways because of bad choices (IMO) they made in design. Starting all from Matt's "need" to go prebuilt and not fully knowing what he wanted from the start locked him into many issues that a typical build could have adapted to easier. Followed by the decision to insulate at the ceiling and not the roof, his excessive worry about holes in the ceiling would have been completely dissipated if the attic was a conditioned space.
@ Nice comment, some decisions basically ended in an unaffordable building which could’ve turned into an affordable building with other choices and actually more passive ✌️
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.
@@SommerBros amazing to hear! At last another builder who knows that a passive house has opportunity to save money as opposed to cost extra because of unnecessary mechanicals and complicated systems. ✌️
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!
writing this one down - 90% of it is just like a conventional home; you're really only paying extra for those thicker walls and some high-performance windows!
@@gorginfazli1 Yes, you know, passive houses are often referred to as ‘expensive’ by some, who just don’t know any better. In reality it is a house that has a minimal 5-10% incremental cost which is instantly offset with savings in utilities. And those who choose to put a net zero solar array on the roof connected to the net metering program, now it actually becomes a house that makes money. ✌️
There's a million ways to build a home, cost is driven up mostly by complexity and material quality. Complexity requires more engineering, engineered materials and skilled labor. Simple box with simple roof < multiple boxes, roof with hips and valleys, design features like large glass wall. Quality materials are expensive up front but last longer, 25-50 years. Cost equals out to cheaper materials that will need to be replaced after 10-15years. So quality materials great investment for long term or forever homes, not a great investment for short term. Passive house adds both, how much depends on climate and envelope design. Warmer climates require less insulation. Envelope designs vary from double stud walls with cellulose < exterior larsen truss/i-joist with cellulose < hung thick exterior insulation like rockwool or wood fiber. So it could be 5% to 25%, but I think for most home owners, the percentage will land higher cause they'll choose larger homes with curb appeal. Maybe after the great wealth transfer, gen z will choose more sustainable designs.
@@MurDocInc Nice & pragmatic comment! However, whether a house has curb appeal or not, it can be made passive with a minimal 5% - 10% increase in cost when compared to a conventional home built with similar finishes. With this level of communication, more people will become interested & inspired to build passive, and ultimately reap the benefits of low operational cost. The world also reaps benefits of energy conservation. Conversely, If communication says it’s costly…. That said a passive house is actually a type of home that can save and make money (net positive) if connected to a net metering program, which is infrastructure for a sustainable energy grid
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.
@@TheChainStay you can build a passive home expensively and inexpensively Inexpensively = 5 to 10% extra cost, Expensively as you overcomplicate the building envelope and mechanicals = 25 to 30% extra cost
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes just happened on this video from ASIRI Designs - ua-cam.com/video/8n08OIHCY3o/v-deo.html and they had the cost from standard to an R40/60 design at 27% more per sqf. Cost breakdown is at 12:00 into the video ...
@@TheChainStay Thanks for sharing, your information confirms there is very little cost difference from conventional to passive. At 13:00, the author confirms ‘ a relatively small bump in material cost’ The 27% you are referring to is strictly the increase in framing material for the WALL system. This would factor in likely less than a 0.5% cost increase for the project
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes The cost isn't huge, but it's there, it also increases the price per sq ft for the overall build as the interior space can be cut down with thicker walls. Matt's higher cost was his going with solar and geothermal. My build (here in Belgium) is going to be 22cm of insulation, but 10cm is on the outside off the vapor shell, 12cm interior and I may add another 5cm in the external walls where the service cavity. We also have PIR foam in the foundation and 27cm in the roof structure. Not quite passive, but very close and will be near net-zero depending on our solar and battery add.
@ Yes, you are correct. The cost difference is not huge. Therefore, Matt‘s house could have easily been passive for the same relative cost.. If the home was built passive, his house would only need a 7KW to net zero not a 17.5 KW As he installed. Therefore, passive is energy conservation and material conservation at its best. If someone wants to build their own science project. That’s totally fine obviously, but when it’s communicated, a net-zero home is complicated and expensive, it is absolutely necessary for the good of the world, to communicate the facts, that passive is simple (uncomplicated) and easily affordable The geothermal system Matt installed could’ve probably provided enough energy for an entire community of passive houses, what’s the point? To spend a lot of money creating a lot of energy that is not required? Build passive and install air source heat pump to live cheaply and affordably. Build non-passive and life stays expensive, It’s a choice everyone can make for themselves, but the choice should be obvious
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.
@@basilkingsley Thank You! You are describing the main problem with the video, the facts are missing. There are a few general misunderstandings with your comments. A - yes he built during Covid, our recent demonstration home was built during Covid as well, nothing to do with the cost increase as he is comparing to code built. In other words, a code built home built during Covid has the same cost increases. B - geothermal is a heat pump, just a heat pump that is 10x the cost of an air source heat pump C “advanced systems” would not include steel roof, many code built homes have steel roof as well.. His cost increases has everything to do with passive inspired & net zero. This is the title of the video series What are those costs? 1 - Unnecessarily complicated (expensive) mechanicals 2 - a huge (expensive) solar array, which would be half the size if built real passive
Thanks for adding this context to the conversation. To give Matt the benefit of the doubt, he usually caveats his videos that this is his experience and not (necessarily) representative of the norm. From watching the video, I get the impression that he is doing some elaborative things that obviously cost a bit that isn't really required. He could probably stated this a bit clearer.
@@AdamJones381 well said! You know we took it to heart because these homes are proven to be affordable with cheaper cost of living even if connected to a net metering program, therefore affordable and attainable for anyone with a reasonable budget to build Ferrell’s video alternatively leaves the impression it’s not affordable or attainable,
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.
@@JeffYantha in general, the larger the building the less thermal envelope required, air tightness is the most important. Let me know size and I could advise thermal envelope.
@ i’m looking at 60 x 40 and 20ft tall for the shop portion with an additional 20 for a garage at 15 ft tall on the end. I’m an hour south of Ottawa near White Lake.
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes I don't get it. It seems like the Passive House using a thinner thermal envelope for large buildings is taking credit for basic geometry, while ignoring the appropriate metric connected with economics. Why measure relative to building volume, not surface area?
@@JeffYantha Hi Jeff, we just realized this message had no response. If you’re still looking for a proposal, please send an inquiry to info@ekobuilt.com
@@richdobbs6595 Efficiencies with Any building yes do take (building envelope) surface area into account. It is called surface area to volume ratio.. Passive buildings have a design prerequisite of a maximum 0.75 SA:V
@@jl9678 just like any other building system there are expensive and affordable options . In our experience, certified passive house windows are available at affordable price point, often comparable with local conventional window manufacturers If you browse our cost analysis documents, you will see the (window) budget we have in place for various designs, ekobuilt.com/energy-efficient-home-plans/#the-house-plans. None of these budgets would be considered unaffordable
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.
@@ericscott3997 Yes a complete overkill! Geothermal is meant for large projects, not individual houses, any passive house HVAC can be inexpensively and easily done with air source heat pump, this is proven time and time again, so no need to use the house as a science experiment, those tests have been done long ago ✌️
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
@@justinlynch6691 you obviously don’t understand passive house requirements. You can’t have a certifiable passivehouse unless the building is open permeable. What side is open permeable (interior or exterior) depends on climate zone. Passive house is the only construction model in the WORLD that requires airtight but open permeable building envelope, so that there is ZERO chance of mold or mildew
@@justinlynch6691 FYI - OSB is a code approved vapour barrier so placing it on the exterior of the home in climate zones 3 and above is a huge mistake As it will hold moisture and lead to mold, It’s not opinion it is FACT.
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
@@andreycham4797 good point on the solar/basement, we understand it is a 17.5 KW, if built truly passive would have only required a near 7KW, yes, building a basement for extra cost makes no sense when you don’t need the space and simply have to figure out the services. ✌️
@@dannybauman1454 if you actually listened to the video, you would see our communications involve simple rebuttals to HVAC confusions, communications on cost, and found foundation (slab vs foundation) the video obviously suggests net zero passive house is complicated and unaffordable. In reality it’s a house that can have 5 to 10% incremental cost. And the cost is more than offset with savings in utilities. Passive house is a home with purpose in a sustainable world, simple, and affordable for everyone, that’s all we are here to communicate ✌️
@@dannybauman1454 see in other comments, undecided Matt sent his own reply, all communications are respectful, respect is important to have at all levels in a sustainable world.
@@dannybauman1454 You are entitled to your opinion, of course. However, the intent of the video was to communicate, passivehouse simplicity, and affordability
Appreciate the take on my video, but a few things to call out. I did mention one of the big reasons why my house was so much more expensive. What I said was, "It’s difficult to nail that down specifically, though, because of when we built it. It just so happened to be during the initial surge in pricing that we saw in response to the pandemic. Bad timing." I think that's the largest culprit of the difference. Second is I think you misunderstood my ERV issue. I didn't adjust my ERV fan to make up for my issue, but my HVAC fan (my ERV has always run 24/7 at a low level). My ERV is doubled up with the HVAC ductwork that feeds the conditioned air into the rooms (the ERV has dedicated ductwork for exhausting though). There were a few rooms that were struggling with CO2 levels because of the lack of dedicated ERV exhaust, so I set my HVAC fan to continuous as well. Basically, it's a downside for how my setup was configured and my house's specific layout. And finally, I'm frustrated at myself that it came across like I was saying passive homes are expensive ... because that's definitely not what I wanted to imply. There's so many ways to build highly efficient homes that are way above code standard for very little extra cost. It's a no-brainer in my book.
@@UndecidedMF Hi Matt, thanks for the response, as we said in the videos, we love your channel in general, just when we saw your video, we felt it left the impression that a net zero/passivehouse is is still at the early adopter stage… an idealistic type of home with lots of great benefits, but also lots of complications making it expensive to build, not able to be done affordably…
In reality, a net zero/passivehouse is one that can be built affordable with minimal 5 to 10% incremental cost over the conventional alternative, and that cost is more than offset with a net-zero net-metering program in place resulting in the home being net positive, essentially a house that makes money.
Thanks for your comments above. We understand the pandemic costs increased, we actually built our recent demonstration home during this time as well. However, it didn’t make much sense because any house, not just passivehomes increased in cost the same percentage..
That said thanks for your comments, and will have to look at your book, sounds like it’s a good one ✌️
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.
@@jackchamberlain5993 Yes, normally we wouldn’t do a callout video, but this was absolutely necessary!
It's also underbuilt in multiple ways because of bad choices (IMO) they made in design. Starting all from Matt's "need" to go prebuilt and not fully knowing what he wanted from the start locked him into many issues that a typical build could have adapted to easier. Followed by the decision to insulate at the ceiling and not the roof, his excessive worry about holes in the ceiling would have been completely dissipated if the attic was a conditioned space.
@ Nice comment, some decisions basically ended in an unaffordable building which could’ve turned into an affordable building with other choices and actually more passive ✌️
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.
@@SommerBros amazing to hear! At last another builder who knows that a passive house has opportunity to save money as opposed to cost extra because of unnecessary mechanicals and complicated systems. ✌️
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!
@@Jmaninaz1 Thanks for your comments and great points! Tough to find reasons not to build passive, Healthy for us and our planet ✌️
writing this one down - 90% of it is just like a conventional home; you're really only paying extra for those thicker walls and some high-performance windows!
@@gorginfazli1 Yes, you know, passive houses are often referred to as ‘expensive’ by some, who just don’t know any better. In reality it is a house that has a minimal 5-10% incremental cost which is instantly offset with savings in utilities. And those who choose to put a net zero solar array on the roof connected to the net metering program, now it actually becomes a house that makes money. ✌️
There's a million ways to build a home, cost is driven up mostly by complexity and material quality.
Complexity requires more engineering, engineered materials and skilled labor. Simple box with simple roof < multiple boxes, roof with hips and valleys, design features like large glass wall.
Quality materials are expensive up front but last longer, 25-50 years. Cost equals out to cheaper materials that will need to be replaced after 10-15years. So quality materials great investment for long term or forever homes, not a great investment for short term.
Passive house adds both, how much depends on climate and envelope design. Warmer climates require less insulation.
Envelope designs vary from double stud walls with cellulose < exterior larsen truss/i-joist with cellulose < hung thick exterior insulation like rockwool or wood fiber.
So it could be 5% to 25%, but I think for most home owners, the percentage will land higher cause they'll choose larger homes with curb appeal. Maybe after the great wealth transfer, gen z will choose more sustainable designs.
@@MurDocInc Nice & pragmatic comment!
However, whether a house has curb appeal or not, it can be made passive with a minimal 5% - 10% increase in cost when compared to a conventional home built with similar finishes.
With this level of communication, more people will become interested & inspired to build passive, and ultimately reap the benefits of low operational cost. The world also reaps benefits of energy conservation.
Conversely, If communication says it’s costly….
That said a passive house is actually a type of home that can save and make money (net positive) if connected to a net metering program, which is infrastructure for a sustainable energy grid
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.
@@TheChainStay you can build a passive home expensively and inexpensively
Inexpensively = 5 to 10% extra cost,
Expensively as you overcomplicate the building envelope and mechanicals = 25 to 30% extra cost
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes just happened on this video from ASIRI Designs - ua-cam.com/video/8n08OIHCY3o/v-deo.html and they had the cost from standard to an R40/60 design at 27% more per sqf. Cost breakdown is at 12:00 into the video ...
@@TheChainStay Thanks for sharing, your information confirms there is very little cost difference from conventional to passive.
At 13:00, the author confirms ‘ a relatively small bump in material cost’
The 27% you are referring to is strictly the increase in framing material for the WALL system. This would factor in likely less than a 0.5% cost increase for the project
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes The cost isn't huge, but it's there, it also increases the price per sq ft for the overall build as the interior space can be cut down with thicker walls. Matt's higher cost was his going with solar and geothermal.
My build (here in Belgium) is going to be 22cm of insulation, but 10cm is on the outside off the vapor shell, 12cm interior and I may add another 5cm in the external walls where the service cavity. We also have PIR foam in the foundation and 27cm in the roof structure. Not quite passive, but very close and will be near net-zero depending on our solar and battery add.
@ Yes, you are correct. The cost difference is not huge. Therefore, Matt‘s house could have easily been passive for the same relative cost..
If the home was built passive, his house would only need a 7KW to net zero not a 17.5 KW As he installed. Therefore, passive is energy conservation and material conservation at its best. If someone wants to build their own science project. That’s totally fine obviously, but when it’s communicated, a net-zero home is complicated and expensive, it is absolutely necessary for the good of the world, to communicate the facts, that passive is simple (uncomplicated) and easily affordable
The geothermal system Matt installed could’ve probably provided enough energy for an entire community of passive houses, what’s the point? To spend a lot of money creating a lot of energy that is not required? Build passive and install air source heat pump to live cheaply and affordably. Build non-passive and life stays expensive, It’s a choice everyone can make for themselves, but the choice should be obvious
I enjoyed watching both videos and am proud to say that I am a follower of both channels.
Amazing thank you so much!
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.
@@basilkingsley Thank You! You are describing the main problem with the video, the facts are missing. There are a few general misunderstandings with your comments.
A - yes he built during Covid, our recent demonstration home was built during Covid as well, nothing to do with the cost increase as he is comparing to code built. In other words, a code built home built during Covid has the same cost increases.
B - geothermal is a heat pump, just a heat pump that is 10x the cost of an air source heat pump
C “advanced systems” would not include steel roof, many code built homes have steel roof as well..
His cost increases has everything to do with passive inspired & net zero. This is the title of the video series What are those costs?
1 - Unnecessarily complicated (expensive) mechanicals
2 - a huge (expensive) solar array, which would be half the size if built real passive
Thanks for adding this context to the conversation. To give Matt the benefit of the doubt, he usually caveats his videos that this is his experience and not (necessarily) representative of the norm. From watching the video, I get the impression that he is doing some elaborative things that obviously cost a bit that isn't really required. He could probably stated this a bit clearer.
@@AdamJones381 well said! You know we took it to heart because these homes are proven to be affordable with cheaper cost of living even if connected to a net metering program, therefore affordable and attainable for anyone with a reasonable budget to build
Ferrell’s video alternatively leaves the impression it’s not affordable or attainable,
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes thank you for adding to the conversation
Awesome video! If anything, building to passive house levels decreases the amount of complex systems needed to keep a home comfortable.
@@raptormatt21 Well said! Yes, passive is simple which equals simple mechanical systems ✌️
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.
@@JeffYantha in general, the larger the building the less thermal envelope required, air tightness is the most important. Let me know size and I could advise thermal envelope.
@ i’m looking at 60 x 40 and 20ft tall for the shop portion with an additional 20 for a garage at 15 ft tall on the end. I’m an hour south of Ottawa near White Lake.
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes I don't get it. It seems like the Passive House using a thinner thermal envelope for large buildings is taking credit for basic geometry, while ignoring the appropriate metric connected with economics. Why measure relative to building volume, not surface area?
@@JeffYantha Hi Jeff, we just realized this message had no response. If you’re still looking for a proposal, please send an inquiry to info@ekobuilt.com
@@richdobbs6595 Efficiencies with Any building yes do take (building envelope) surface area into account. It is called surface area to volume ratio..
Passive buildings have a design prerequisite of a maximum 0.75 SA:V
I looked into building passive house. Just the windows imported from Europe would have added 12-15% to my cost. That's just the windows
@@jl9678 just like any other building system there are expensive and affordable options . In our experience, certified passive house windows are available at affordable price point, often comparable with local conventional window manufacturers
If you browse our cost analysis documents, you will see the (window) budget we have in place for various designs, ekobuilt.com/energy-efficient-home-plans/#the-house-plans.
None of these budgets would be considered unaffordable
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.
@@ericscott3997 Yes a complete overkill! Geothermal is meant for large projects, not individual houses, any passive house HVAC can be inexpensively and easily done with air source heat pump, this is proven time and time again, so no need to use the house as a science experiment, those tests have been done long ago ✌️
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
@@justinlynch6691 you obviously don’t understand passive house requirements.
You can’t have a certifiable passivehouse unless the building is open permeable. What side is open permeable (interior or exterior) depends on climate zone.
Passive house is the only construction model in the WORLD that requires airtight but open permeable building envelope, so that there is ZERO chance of mold or mildew
@@justinlynch6691 FYI - OSB is a code approved vapour barrier so placing it on the exterior of the home in climate zones 3 and above is a huge mistake As it will hold moisture and lead to mold,
It’s not opinion it is FACT.
Very, very well done, lots of respect
good call
@@StephaneSt-Laurent-v7q thanks for watching
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
@@andreycham4797 good point on the solar/basement, we understand it is a 17.5 KW, if built truly passive would have only required a near 7KW, yes, building a basement for extra cost makes no sense when you don’t need the space and simply have to figure out the services. ✌️
Hi Paul. Nice, professional counter to Matt, whom I watch regularly. Your points are clear and concise.
Seriously, you literally made a video trashing the guys house? Do you have nothing better to do?
@@dannybauman1454 if you actually listened to the video, you would see our communications involve simple rebuttals to HVAC confusions, communications on cost, and found foundation (slab vs foundation) the video obviously suggests net zero passive house is complicated and unaffordable. In reality it’s a house that can have 5 to 10% incremental cost. And the cost is more than offset with savings in utilities.
Passive house is a home with purpose in a sustainable world, simple, and affordable for everyone, that’s all we are here to communicate ✌️
@@dannybauman1454 see in other comments, undecided Matt sent his own reply, all communications are respectful, respect is important to have at all levels in a sustainable world.
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes I watched the video. I still feel this is petty.
@@dannybauman1454 You are entitled to your opinion, of course. However, the intent of the video was to communicate, passivehouse simplicity, and affordability
@@EkoBuiltPassiveHomes fair enough.