European design influences and perfect teamwork combine to bring a family project into eco-friendly excellence.
Clear vision is essential when it comes to complex projects—but it’s hard to know how to do something when one isn’t even certain of what it is one wants to do.
Fortunately, clear vision was hardly an issue for Smitesh and Lopa Bakrania, who knew from the beginning that they wanted a family home that wasn’t just comfortable and attractive, but energy-efficient and affordable.
With that goal in mind, the Bakranias partnered with Richard Pedranti Architect (RPA) and Under Construction Builders (UCB) to create the Bakrania Passive House, a paragon of sustainable architecture and engineering.
That partnership has resulted in Bakrania Passive House being named Green Builder’s 2026 Green Home of the Year (GHOTY) winner in the General Green Home category.
From the Judges: “There are some extremely well thought-out, rational design decisions. It has a moderate-sized floorplan with good space utilization, and it’s extremely energy efficient. The house is a benchmark for what custom homes should be.”
Sustainability from Scratch
Located in southern New Jersey, the Bakrania Passive House was designed from the beginning with PHIUS certification in mind. Smitesh Bakrania, a mechanical engineer and professor of sustainability, was drawn to Passive House design principles due to consistent examples of their cost- and energy-consciousness, especially in the long-term.
The airtight envelope is constructed with LP SmartSide siding, HydroGap drainable house wrap, a Siga smart membrane, and ZIP R-12 sheathing, with dense-pack cellulose insulation, while the metal standing seam roof utilizes a pre-engineered truss structure and closed cell spray foam.
Heating and cooling are provided using twin Daikin air source heat pump ducted mini split systems and a Rheem electric heat pump water heater. A Zehnder Q350 energy recovery ventilator ties it all together to create a PHIUS-certified Passive House that boasts an impressive minus 6 HERS rating.
The combination of the airtight construction and optimized ventilation has also resulted in a significantly healthier living environment, with the Bakranias noting that the frequency and severity of their son’s asthma attacks have significantly decreased within their new, healthy home.
But the Bakrania Passive House’s achievements don’t end with its air filtration and insulation—it’s also a leader in residential energy conservation. Its Lucent Solar-installed, roof-mounted 8kW solar array, sporting 20 400W Hanwa panels, is affixed to the southern side of the home’s roof to ensure the maximum possible yield during the day.
Not only does the system power the home, it also charges a pair of Tesla Powerwall 2.0 batteries that can provide backup power in the event of an outage. A Tesla 7.6kW solar inverter ensures that power goes where it needs to, and a suite of energy-efficient appliances from LG and Electro Industries come together to make a home with so much surplus energy that the Bakranias are able to charge not just one, but two electric cars from the garage.
Inspiration for the Bakrania Passive House came from some surprising sources, recalls principal architect Richard Pedranti. “[The Bakrania family]’s travels through Europe and New Zealand inspired a desire for the meticulous attention to detail that they found in international residential design,” he notes, “such as highly efficient, practical layouts, and the use of triple-paned windows.”
Indeed, one of the qualities that drew the Bakranias to RPA was the company’s European-inspired simplicity and modern, minimalist aesthetic, while UCB was selected due to its interest and proactivity in realizing the Passive House U.S. Standard. The partnership proved effective, with UCB continually impressing the others with their professionalism and understanding—they even let the Bakrania family move into the home before the final touches were in place to account for their children’s return to school.
However, the project wasn’t without its hurdles, Pedranti recalls. “One of the primary challenges was navigating budget considerations through thoughtful value engineering,” he says. “To meet budgetary realities, we had to transition from an initial flat roof design to a more cost-effective gable roof, while also refining room dimensions and adjusting certain exterior details.”
Other issues arose thanks to COVID-19, with the Bakrania House’s construction suffering from significant pandemic-related supply chain delays—the worst of which were associated with the specialized triple-pane windows—and finding a contractor as committed to and experienced with Passive House design principles as the rest of the team.
All of that said, the results of the project more than made up for the obstacles in its development. The Bakrania Passive House is environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing, and its low operating costs, quality construction, and easy maintenance options mean that it will stay that way for a long time yet. Pedranti was satisfied with the project and considered it a valuable lesson on the subject of inter-team communication.
“Designing a Passive House is much like conducting a symphony,” Pedranti says. “The site, the materials, suppliers, and the specialized construction team must all be perfectly synchronized to transform a vision into a reality.”
A stylish, low-maintenance countertop and energy-saving appliances make the kitchen a sustainability showcase.
LP Smartside siding is verified carbon negative: It stores more carbon than the total greenhouse gas emissions released throughout the siding’s life cycle.
Triple-pane glass provides energy-saving natural light throughout the house.
A wide-open design provides the home with exceptional natural lighting—an energy saver, and a vision-friendly element for homeowners.
Bath products from manufacturers such as Kohler, Jaclo, Riobel, ID Infinity Drain and Bertch provide style, comfort and water conservation.
Key Components
Appliances: LG dishwasher; Electro Industries Vent-A-Hood with make-up air kit; LG induction cooktop; LG combination wall oven; LG refrigerator; LG washer/dryer combo Building envelope: Walls (R-40) - LP Smartside Siding; Hydro Gap drainable house wrap; ZIP R-12 sheathing; 2-by-8 structural wall with dense-pack cellulose insulation in cavity; Siga smart membrane; 0.5-inch painted gypsum board interior finish; Foundation (R-30) - poured concrete stem walls and footings; vertical insulation on stem walls; poured concrete slab; Stego wrap; sub slab insulation Cabinets, shelves, millwork: Kitchen and pantry by Wren Caulks and sealants: Conservation Technologies EPDM gaskets under still plates; Siga tapes for air sealing Countertops: Kitchen and pantry by Wren; spec - 1.125 quartz soapstone metropolis Decks: Trex decking; Screen-Eze and retractable screens Doors and hardware: Solid core birch interior doors with Schlage hardware Electrical: SPAN smart panel Exterior finishes: Siding - LP Smartside Nickel Gap; Trim - Boral Tru-Exterior; Roof - Metal standing seam by Englert; Gutters - aluminum K; Porch ceilings - Boral Tru-Exterior 6-inch nickel gap Flooring: Luxury vinyl plank - Pinnacle, Tarrassa White Oak; Bathroom tile - Kursaal, 15-by-30 inch in slate Garage doors: 16-by-7 Lincoln 3138 flush panel Home controls: Lutron Caseta HVAC/ducts: Twin Daikin air source heat pump with ducted mini-split systems Insulation: Sub slab - Type 9 EPS insulation w/vertical XPS on foundation stem walls; exterior sheathing - ZIP R-12; wall cavity - dense-pack cellulose; roof cavity - closed cell spray foam; window and exterior door undersills - Nyxon blocking supplied by Mavrik European Windows Landscaping: Bluestone patio; Palm Beach by Stone Castle Pools and Spas, LLC Lighting: Exterior sconce - Silo by Hinkley; interior ambient light tape - LED tape by WAC Lighting; track light - Monorail track by Stone Lighting; kitchen island pendants - Silo track pendant by WAC Lighting; vanity sconces - Chamberlin by Huxe Paints and stains: Interior paint - Benjamin Moore Plumbing/plumbing fixtures: Kohler kitchen fixtures; Kohler, Jaclo, Riobel, and ID Infinity Drain bathroom fixtures; Bertch bathroom vanities Renewable energy systems (solar, wind, etc.): Roof-mounted solar panels by Lucent Solar, 8 kilowatts (kW); 20-count Hanwha 400 watts, Tesla 7.6 kW solar inverter, twin Tesla Powerwall 2.0, twin Tesla car chargers Roof: Metal standing seam (R-65); high temperature roof underlayment; 0.625-inch zip sheathing; 2-by-12 pre-engineered truss structure; closed cell spray foam in cavity; 0.5-inch painted gypsum board interior finish Ventilation: Zehnder ERV Q350 Water heating: Rheem electric hot water heat pump Windows, skylights, patio doors: Windows - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane uPVC Gealan S8000; sills - Mavrik European Windows Aluron aluminum sills; exterior doors - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane aluminum Aluprof; skylights - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane Oxpol
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.
Passive House Offers Form and Function
European design influences and perfect teamwork combine to bring a family project into eco-friendly excellence.
Fortunately, clear vision was hardly an issue for Smitesh and Lopa Bakrania, who knew from the beginning that they wanted a family home that wasn’t just comfortable and attractive, but energy-efficient and affordable.
With that goal in mind, the Bakranias partnered with Richard Pedranti Architect (RPA) and Under Construction Builders (UCB) to create the Bakrania Passive House, a paragon of sustainable architecture and engineering.
That partnership has resulted in Bakrania Passive House being named Green Builder’s 2026 Green Home of the Year (GHOTY) winner in the General Green Home category.
From the Judges: “There are some extremely well thought-out, rational design decisions. It has a moderate-sized floorplan with good space utilization, and it’s extremely energy efficient. The house is a benchmark for what custom homes should be.”
Sustainability from Scratch
Located in southern New Jersey, the Bakrania Passive House was designed from the beginning with PHIUS certification in mind. Smitesh Bakrania, a mechanical engineer and professor of sustainability, was drawn to Passive House design principles due to consistent examples of their cost- and energy-consciousness, especially in the long-term.
The airtight envelope is constructed with LP SmartSide siding, HydroGap drainable house wrap, a Siga smart membrane, and ZIP R-12 sheathing, with dense-pack cellulose insulation, while the metal standing seam roof utilizes a pre-engineered truss structure and closed cell spray foam.
Heating and cooling are provided using twin Daikin air source heat pump ducted mini split systems and a Rheem electric heat pump water heater. A Zehnder Q350 energy recovery ventilator ties it all together to create a PHIUS-certified Passive House that boasts an impressive minus 6 HERS rating.
The combination of the airtight construction and optimized ventilation has also resulted in a significantly healthier living environment, with the Bakranias noting that the frequency and severity of their son’s asthma attacks have significantly decreased within their new, healthy home.
But the Bakrania Passive House’s achievements don’t end with its air filtration and insulation—it’s also a leader in residential energy conservation. Its Lucent Solar-installed, roof-mounted 8kW solar array, sporting 20 400W Hanwa panels, is affixed to the southern side of the home’s roof to ensure the maximum possible yield during the day.
Not only does the system power the home, it also charges a pair of Tesla Powerwall 2.0 batteries that can provide backup power in the event of an outage. A Tesla 7.6kW solar inverter ensures that power goes where it needs to, and a suite of energy-efficient appliances from LG and Electro Industries come together to make a home with so much surplus energy that the Bakranias are able to charge not just one, but two electric cars from the garage.
Click to view a larger image.
Clean Lines, Clean Living
Inspiration for the Bakrania Passive House came from some surprising sources, recalls principal architect Richard Pedranti. “[The Bakrania family]’s travels through Europe and New Zealand inspired a desire for the meticulous attention to detail that they found in international residential design,” he notes, “such as highly efficient, practical layouts, and the use of triple-paned windows.”
Indeed, one of the qualities that drew the Bakranias to RPA was the company’s European-inspired simplicity and modern, minimalist aesthetic, while UCB was selected due to its interest and proactivity in realizing the Passive House U.S. Standard. The partnership proved effective, with UCB continually impressing the others with their professionalism and understanding—they even let the Bakrania family move into the home before the final touches were in place to account for their children’s return to school.
However, the project wasn’t without its hurdles, Pedranti recalls. “One of the primary challenges was navigating budget considerations through thoughtful value engineering,” he says. “To meet budgetary realities, we had to transition from an initial flat roof design to a more cost-effective gable roof, while also refining room dimensions and adjusting certain exterior details.”
Other issues arose thanks to COVID-19, with the Bakrania House’s construction suffering from significant pandemic-related supply chain delays—the worst of which were associated with the specialized triple-pane windows—and finding a contractor as committed to and experienced with Passive House design principles as the rest of the team.
All of that said, the results of the project more than made up for the obstacles in its development. The Bakrania Passive House is environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing, and its low operating costs, quality construction, and easy maintenance options mean that it will stay that way for a long time yet. Pedranti was satisfied with the project and considered it a valuable lesson on the subject of inter-team communication.
“Designing a Passive House is much like conducting a symphony,” Pedranti says. “The site, the materials, suppliers, and the specialized construction team must all be perfectly synchronized to transform a vision into a reality.”
A stylish, low-maintenance countertop and energy-saving appliances make the kitchen a sustainability showcase.
LP Smartside siding is verified carbon negative: It stores more carbon than the total greenhouse gas emissions released throughout the siding’s life cycle.
Triple-pane glass provides energy-saving natural light throughout the house.
A wide-open design provides the home with exceptional natural lighting—an energy saver, and a vision-friendly element for homeowners.
Bath products from manufacturers such as Kohler, Jaclo, Riobel, ID Infinity Drain and Bertch provide style, comfort and water conservation.
Key Components
Appliances: LG dishwasher; Electro Industries Vent-A-Hood with make-up air kit; LG induction cooktop; LG combination wall oven; LG refrigerator; LG washer/dryer combo
Building envelope: Walls (R-40) - LP Smartside Siding; Hydro Gap drainable house wrap; ZIP R-12 sheathing; 2-by-8 structural wall with dense-pack cellulose insulation in cavity; Siga smart membrane; 0.5-inch painted gypsum board interior finish; Foundation (R-30) - poured concrete stem walls and footings; vertical insulation on stem walls; poured concrete slab; Stego wrap; sub slab insulation
Cabinets, shelves, millwork: Kitchen and pantry by Wren
Caulks and sealants: Conservation Technologies EPDM gaskets under still plates; Siga tapes for air sealing
Countertops: Kitchen and pantry by Wren; spec - 1.125 quartz soapstone metropolis
Decks: Trex decking; Screen-Eze and retractable screens
Doors and hardware: Solid core birch interior doors with Schlage hardware
Electrical: SPAN smart panel
Exterior finishes: Siding - LP Smartside Nickel Gap; Trim - Boral Tru-Exterior; Roof - Metal standing seam by Englert; Gutters - aluminum K; Porch ceilings - Boral Tru-Exterior 6-inch nickel gap
Flooring: Luxury vinyl plank - Pinnacle, Tarrassa White Oak; Bathroom tile - Kursaal, 15-by-30 inch in slate
Garage doors: 16-by-7 Lincoln 3138 flush panel
Home controls: Lutron Caseta
HVAC/ducts: Twin Daikin air source heat pump with ducted mini-split systems
Insulation: Sub slab - Type 9 EPS insulation w/vertical XPS on foundation stem walls; exterior sheathing - ZIP R-12; wall cavity - dense-pack cellulose; roof cavity - closed cell spray foam; window and exterior door undersills - Nyxon blocking supplied by Mavrik European Windows
Landscaping: Bluestone patio; Palm Beach by Stone Castle Pools and Spas, LLC
Lighting: Exterior sconce - Silo by Hinkley; interior ambient light tape - LED tape by WAC Lighting; track light - Monorail track by Stone Lighting; kitchen island pendants - Silo track pendant by WAC Lighting; vanity sconces - Chamberlin by Huxe
Paints and stains: Interior paint - Benjamin Moore
Plumbing/plumbing fixtures: Kohler kitchen fixtures; Kohler, Jaclo, Riobel, and ID Infinity Drain bathroom fixtures; Bertch bathroom vanities
Renewable energy systems (solar, wind, etc.): Roof-mounted solar panels by Lucent Solar, 8 kilowatts (kW); 20-count Hanwha 400 watts, Tesla 7.6 kW solar inverter, twin Tesla Powerwall 2.0, twin Tesla car chargers
Roof: Metal standing seam (R-65); high temperature roof underlayment; 0.625-inch zip sheathing; 2-by-12 pre-engineered truss structure; closed cell spray foam in cavity; 0.5-inch painted gypsum board interior finish
Ventilation: Zehnder ERV Q350
Water heating: Rheem electric hot water heat pump
Windows, skylights, patio doors: Windows - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane uPVC Gealan S8000; sills - Mavrik European Windows Aluron aluminum sills; exterior doors - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane aluminum Aluprof; skylights - Mavrik European Windows triple-pane Oxpol
By Alan Naditz
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.Also Read