“The Shift House incorporates not only physical and spatial shifts, but also represents a paradigm shift in home construction methods and green building philosophy. We were drawn to the Passive House concept because rather than representing sustainability in terms of elusive catch-phrases, it is simply defined by a quantifiable number of allowed energy use; and rather than relying on costly technologies to produce energy, it strives to simply reduce the need for energy in the first place, using simple concepts in an integrative systems approach. The result is simple: no furnace.

Reducing heating energy is reducing heat losses. The house employs superinsulation in order to significantly reduce the heat transfer through the building shell, with special attention given to eliminating thermal bridges. The walls have an R-value of 42 while the roof has an R-value of 60. Every construction joint in the building envelope is carefully sealed to minimize the amount of air that can pass through the structure. High performance triple-pane windows are used to insure that the windows are not the weakest link in the chain.

Reducing heating energy is making use of free heat. The house makes use of passive solar design by facing the majority of windows south to capture the sunlight. This strategy is combined with the use of thermal mass in the form of exposed concrete floors.

The house makes extensive use of intrinsic heat from internal sources – such as waste heat from appliances– as well as body heat from the people and animals inside the building. These heat sources can have a significant impact in a superinsulated building.

To insure a high air quality in the interior, a heat recovery ventilator is employed that not only brings air in from the outside, but also transfers the warmth of the outgoing stale air to the incoming fresh air, thus reusing the building’s existing heat.

Keeping heat out reduces the need for cooling energy. As one of the home’s main cooling strategies, all of the south-facing windows are equipped with sliding exterior sunscreens made from horizontal wood slats. Several of the larger windows are equipped with solid wooden shutters that not only provide shade from the sun, but also reduce heat losses through the glass at night. This operability of the house’s exterior then becomes a design feature that gives the building its dynamic ever-shifting look.”

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This residence is designed with an emphasis on construction methodology and sustainability. Radiant heating and cooling efficiently controls the temperature throughout the levels and p.v. panels are placed for optimal solar gain. Highly efficient glazing provides natural light and ventilation, while slatted screens assist with privacy and shading.

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• Natural and recycled materials – recycled wood/siding, local stone, using trees on site
• Landscape design with native, indigenous drought resistant plants
• Local materials- less transportation, supports local economy & community
• Natural building techniques that do not pollute the earth and burn minimal fossil fuels, save
earth´s resources; are sensitive to human health; Conserve native plants, animals, and natural
habitats, and create an aesthetically pleasing, natural feeling.

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