Passive Home

Clarum builds passive homes for their
sound ethics and aesthetic beauty.

A passive home is simply a building that employs a set of advanced building technologies to achieve extreme energy efficiency. Energy consumption is reduced by 90% or more compared to that of conventional homes.

And these efficiency gains aren’t due to some weird, boxy, ugly building design. Passive homes are elegant, comfortable living spaces with beauty that can rival that of any other custom luxury home.

If you would like to learn more about the technologies, key features, and building processes, visit our project blog that follows the process of our 2011 Menlo Park Passive Home.

Passive homes let you help the environment and enjoy the home of your dreams.

Clarum is committed to transforming the way you live. Here are the specific benefits of our custom passive homes:

• The passive home is more than just sustainable. It is, in fact, far greener than most anything currently labeled “green,” and often using net zero energy for heating and cooling. That means no furnace (you read that right), and extreme energy efficiency. All heating needs in a typical passive house can be met by a single 1000-watt heater. Heat from people, lights, appliances and the sun does the rest.
• The passive home is healthy—for your family and the environment. It is a haven for people with allergies. Nontoxic building materials are used throughout, and because excellent indoor air quality is essential for health, a heat recovery ventilator (essentially a duct-based fan) maintains a gentle flow of fresh air while balancing heat and humidity through smart, vapor-permeable walls.
• The passive home is incredibly comfortable. Fresh air flows into your home and mixes with existing air to maintain an even temperature throughout. Your home will be free of drafts and air stratification, while also maintaining exceptional indoor-air quality. Even better, opening the windows doesn’t affect the ventilation system.
• It’s also amazingly quiet. The passive home is a tranquil sanctuary with its nearly silent ventilation system (no blasts from vents), super-sealed joints, and maximized insulation. Homeowners are amazed at how effectively passive homes silence even the busiest street noise.

• The passive home is a savvy yet stylish choice, and a sound investment. By using the most advanced design and technology available, your home will be beautiful for decades to come, and you will not have to pay high utility bills because you use net zero energy to power it.

The result is a responsible and sustainable approach to home building.

For more on passive home features, check out our Passive Brochure or visit our Resources section.

Read what clients are saying about Clarum Homes.

See photos of our recent passive home projects.

Learn more about building your custom-designed passive house:
Sean Misskelley, Director of Construction
Tel 650.322.7069 x30