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First 'Passive House' Built In Harwinton

Connecticut Public Radio | By Ray Hardman
Published April 1, 2013 at 3:22 PM EDT
UI/Energize Connecticut

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Samaia/Connecticut%20Passive%20House.mp3

The first passive house has been built in Connecticut. 
 
The term passive house refers to a rigorous standard of energy efficiency. Passive houses require very little energy to heat and cool. There are thousands of passives houses in Europe, but only about a hundred have been built in the US. 
 
Paul and Diane Honig's home in Harwinton was built to the passive house standard, and earlier this week won the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge overall award. Connecticut Light and Power's Enoch Lenge says the Honig's house is the most energy efficient house he has even seen:
 
Passive houses cost around five to ten percent more than a normal house to build, but Lenge says the extra cost is worth it. The Honigs pay nothing for electricity, and actually sell their energy surplus to Connecticut Light and Power. 
Ray Hardman
Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.
See stories by Ray Hardman

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If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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