Passive House Community Utilizes HRVs to Optimize IAQ
Heat recovery ventilation systems maintain healthy indoor air
BELFAST, Maine — After years of planning, design, and construction, Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage is complete. This 36-unit multi-generational community, located on 42 acres, has a mission to be an innovative housing model for rural Maine. The ultra-energy-efficient homes, pedestrian-friendly layout, shared common house, and preservation of land for agricultural purposes make this community a noteworthy example of environmental sustainability.
All of the homes were built to the passive house standard: they use 90 percent less energy to heat and cool than a typical code-built home. All feature triple-pane windows and doors, air-tight sealing, generous amounts of insulation, and a solar orientation for passive heat gain. To maintain healthy IAQ, each home and the common house are equipped with a Zehnder heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system.