First Pre-Certified PHIUS+ 2021 Home Worldwide

The Bell Residence, a unique PHIUS Passive House, demonstrates how easy reaching net zero carbon emissions can be.

When you’re the first at something, you also set an example. Fireside Home Construction and Architectural Resources have accomplished that with the Bell Residence in Birmingham, Michigan, a Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS)+ Zero 2021 Passive House, the area’s first such certified home, and the first pre-certified PHIUS+ 2021 home worldwide.

This home features a rainwater harvesting system, complete with rain gardens, and a grid-tied solar electric (photovoltaic [PV]) system, which allows it to operate fully on electricity. It also boasts Michigan’s best air-sealed and tightest building envelope, which is paired with a state-of-the-art Zehnder ERV whole-house ventilation system to maintain superior indoor air quality (IAQ). 

Additionally, this home integrates advanced smart panel technology with PV system, giving its homeowners detailed control and monitoring over all aspects of their electrical infrastructure.

The PHIUS+ 2021 standard that this home meets is designed to reduce energy for space conditioning by 40-60 percent compared to conventional buildings. PHIUS+ homes are known for their high performance, offering improved (IAQ), resilience during power outages, and an exceptionally quiet, comfortable indoor environment. 

At the core of the passive building methodology are design principles that balance energy gains and losses based on climate to achieve unparalleled energy efficiency and comfort. Passive design strategies include continuous insulation without thermal bridging, high-performance windows, balanced heat and moisture recovery ventilation, and an ultra-minimal space conditioning system.

“A passive building achieves comfort through superinsulation and airtight construction, keeping indoor temperatures consistent and minimizing energy demand,” the companies note. “The approach applies across building types, from single-family homes to skyscrapers, making it a versatile solution for high-performance building.”

Net zero carbon: A pleasant surprise

The Bell Residence was designed for high performance under PHIUS standards, and although achieving net zero carbon emissions wasn’t the primary goal, strategic use of advanced building science resulted in a remarkable RESNET Carbon Index score of minus 22, according to Fireside Home Construction President Jake Lappan.

This was achieved through a combination of climate-specific design, thermal mass utilization, precise envelope optimization, and material choices that ensure energy conservation and carbon reduction throughout the building’s lifecycle. 

Multiple advanced strategies to achieve net zero carbon and surpass typical standards were implemented, including: 

Airtight Construction
The Bell Residence holds the record for the tightest air sealing in Michigan, which drastically reduces energy loss and optimizes overall efficiency. Minimizing air leakage reduces heating and cooling loads, which conserves energy throughout the home’s lifecycle. 

Superior Insulation and Thermal Bridging Minimization
Continuous insulation was applied across the building envelope, eliminating thermal bridging and creating a barrier that maintains interior temperatures. This approach conserves energy year-round, allowing for precise climate control and energy savings. 

Onsite Renewable Energy
The home’s highly efficient, grid-tied PV system exceeds net zero energy requirements. The system offsets all household energy needs and provides surplus energy, which powers an electric vehicle (EV) charging station, further lowering the carbon footprint and eliminating emissions from transportation. 

Ventilation System for Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
The home utilizes a Zehnder Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system, which ensures optimal (IAQ) by continuously exchanging fresh, filtered air. This ERV also recovers heat and moisture, reducing the demand on the heating and cooling system while maintaining comfortable indoor conditions. 

Efficient Energy Management
Smart panel technology integrates with the solar system to enable precise monitoring and control of all electrical infrastructure. This system optimizes energy usage in real time, which helps maintain a HERS score of minus 20 and RESNET score of minus 22, which reflects the home’s carbon-negative performance.  

Lifecycle-based material selection. “While we didn’t quantify embodied carbon, our material choices were made with lifecycle impact in mind, focusing on durability and low embodied carbon materials like engineered wood and cellulose insulation,” Tappan notes. “These decisions were guided by research on material sustainability and aligned with minimizing embodied carbon.” 

Qualitative Analysis for Construction Efficiency
Throughout the project, Fireside Home Construction and Architectural Resources employed resource-efficient construction methods, such as waste minimization and local sourcing, which are generally associated with lower carbon impacts.