Ann Arbor Passive House Ann Arbor, Michigan

Eric and Jo Ann, a couple from Ann Arbor, Michigan, share a passion for the environment. Together, they decided to build a primary residence designed to satisfy Passive House standards for energy efficiency. In addition to offering quantifiable energy efficiency, Passive House buildings are extremely resilient and provide comfort even in extreme weather conditions.

Eric and Jo Ann worked with architect Michael Klement from Architectural Resources and Adaptive Building Solutions, LLC to accomplish their goals.

Designing for Efficiency and Cold Climate 

To meet Passive House standards, the building team had to consider how every element of the two-story, single-family home would contribute to the home’s overall performance. This included selecting proper insulation, doors, windows and the mechanical systems. They required a high-performing, energy-efficient HVAC system. The solution? Mitsubishi Electric Zoned Comfort Solutions^®.

Michigan’s cold winters mean the HVAC system has to take it a step further, and perform efficiently even in extreme temperatures. The state sees an annual average of 50 inches of snowfall. The solution here? Hyper-Heating INVERTER^® (H2i^®) technology. H2i technology performs efficiently in temperatures as low as -13° F, helping homeowners keep warm without causing their utility bills to skyrocket.

Achieving Outstanding Savings

The home, finished in February 2019, has attained a HERS Index^® score of 14, is ENERGY STAR® certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified and has met Passive House Institute US status. It is also projected to meet DOE Zero Energy Ready Home status.

If the green certifications and Passive House status weren’t already icing on the cake, Eric and Jo Ann anticipate significant utility savings. According to their HERS report, the couple can anticipate a projected $8,640 in annual energy savings compared to the average, new construction home in the U.S.

“We are very, very pleased with how the house turned out,” said Eric. “The home is an opportunity to lead by example and it’s already exceeding our expectations.”

Mitsubishi Electric Equipment Installed

(1) MXZ-4C36NAHZ M-Series H2i® Outdoor Heat Pump
(2) MSZ-FHNA Wall-Mounted Indoor Units
(2) SEZ-KD12NA Horizontal-Ducted Indoor Units
(4) MHK-1 Wall-Mounted Wireless Controllers

Check out Mitsubishi Electric for more information about energy-efficient HVAC systems.