Building a Passive House: SmartHome Cleveland
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PNC SmartHome Cleveland
During summer and early fall of 2011, visitors to The Cleveland Museum of Natural History were invited to tour a home that could represent the future of energy-efficient housing. PNC SmartHome Cleveland was a real house constructed on Museum grounds and presented in conjunction with the exhibition Climate Change, on display July 23 through December 31, 2011 in the Museum's Kahn Hall. Although SmartHome closed to the public in October 2011, the house was moved to a permanent residential lot in University Circle, where it will eventually become the home of a Cleveland family.
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While Climate Change addresses the effect of human actions on the Earth, SmartHome Cleveland demonstrates how humans can act to affect an energy-efficient future and can help change ideas about how we design, build and live in our homes in Northeast Ohio. The home was designed using the Passive House methodology, the world’s most advanced standard of energy performance. PNC SmartHome was built using a wall system based on structural insulated panels.
Designed to function without a furnace, SmartHome Cleveland is 90 percent more energy efficient than a typical home. It features sustainable materials and furnishings, advanced stormwater techniques, healthy housing techniques and biophilic design to connect occupants to nature. (Click here to learn more about the SmartHome Cleveland site.) Three key elements distinguish "passive house" structures from typical houses: high levels of insulation, with walls up to 18 inches thick; a carefully sealed building envelope with minimal air leakage combined with efficient heat-recovery ventilation for superior indoor air quality; and ultra high-performance windows—at least double-paned and typically triple-paned. The result is a home with no drafts, no cold spots and extremely low heating bills. View a real-time graph of SmartHome Cleveland's energy consumption. For more ideas on how to live simply and sustainably, visit the Museum's sustainability blog.
"SmartHome Cleveland will give thousands of people hands-on experience with the most advanced, practical and attractive techniques of green building and energy conservation," said David Beach, director of GreenCityBlueLake Institute, the center for sustainability at the Museum. "It will also raise design standards in Northeast Ohio by increasing awareness of passive house principles, and can help make Cleveland a center for advanced design."
The two-story house has a net living space of approximately 2,500 square feet, including three bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms. When the house is moved to its permanent location on Wade Park Avenue in University Circle, it will also include a full basement. (Click here to see the floor plans.) If you are interested in purchasing SmartHome Cleveland, please contact Ernie Cahoon of Howard Hanna Realtors at (216) 440-1210. View the listing.
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Copyright Doty & Miller Architects
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"We’re excited about the opportunity to bring the leading ideas of building science to Northeast Ohio," said Dr. Evalyn Gates, the Museum’s executive director and CEO. "This will be the ultimate green exhibit—a home that meets the world’s most rigorous energy standard for residential construction, and that at the end of the exhibit will become a permanent asset to Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood."
The home was designed by Chuck Miller of Doty & Miller Architects in Cleveland. Certified Passive House Consultant Mark Hoberecht of HarvestBuild Associates will oversee SmartHome Cleveland’s adherence to the standards of the Passive House Institute US.
SmartHome Cleveland is funded by PNC Bank, The Cleveland Foundation, The George B. Storer Foundation, an anonymous donor and a number of other sponsors. The Museum receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, to preserve and enrich the region’s artistic and cultural heritage.
Red Dot Project SmartSale
The artwork featured in PNC SmartHome Cleveland was created by artists who incorporate the principles of sustainability in their artwork. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is working with RED DOT Project, a member-based nonprofit art resource located in Cleveland, Ohio. RED DOT Project’s mission is to expand the market for art, directly linking the region's artists, arts businesses and art service providers to potential markets. At RED DOT Project, art works to sustain the region's artist entrepreneurs who contribute to Northeast Ohio's cultural community, economic growth and quality of life. Before PNC SmartHome is moved to its permanent location, art featured in the home will be available for purchase.
About SmartHome Cleveland
Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
The George B. Storer Foundation
Participating Sponsors
Promotional Sponsors
