Dundee 'passive' house represents new market

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Courtesy Green Hammer

The Passivhaus-certified home in Dundee will retain a constant air temperature. 

A Passivhaus-certified home in Dundee represents a new trend in building for aging Baby Boomers, providing a net-zero energy living space with above-average air quality.

Portland-based Green Hammer helped Lynne Taccongna and Bob Donough design and build a 1,300-square-foot dream retirement home that achieved the rigorous, European-developed Passivhaus certification.

While more than 25,000 such buildings exist in Europe, fewer than 50 buildings in the United States meet this rigorous, near net-zero energy standard that puts an emphasis on insulation and airflow control to cut heating and cooling needs.

The Dundee house is one of a few single-family homes to achieve the certification, including a couple in Portland and one in Salem.

But Stephen Aiguier, Green Hammer's president and founder said that's changing fast.

Aiguier estimates there are about 17 projects — several of them multi-family buildings bringing the total number of dwelling units to 243 — that are in some stage of passive house certification. Aiguier estimates that Green Hammer has been involved as at least a consultant with about 220 of them.

"There's definitely a shift happening," Aiguier said. "These kinds of buildings are going to end up being much more standard."

Mutli-family projects that Green Hammer has been involved in include the Mark O. Hatfield building which has 106 units, a six-unit project called Ankeny Row on Portland's eastside and a 55-unit apartment building in Orenco Station.

The home for Tacconga and Donough was built for about a 12 percent price increase over a standard single family home, Aiguier said. He said that for older adults who want to age in place, the passive house model is very well suited.