A home transformed for 'high performance'

When "Jerry and Charlotte" went house hunting almost a decade ago, they initially envisioned a classic place filled with Old World charm. Instead, they chose a modest ranch-style home in Sunnyvale, built in 1957.

"It wasn't the look we were initially hoping for," says Jerry (the couple requested that their real names not be published), "but tastes change, and the clean lines definitely grew on us."

Eventually, though, the pair wearied of "quirks" such as condensation on the single-pane windows whenever the weather turned cold or rainy, and a perpetually chilly corner in the three-bedroom, two-bath house where mold was discovered. Moreover, the noninsulated walls and a poorly designed fireplace leaked warmth. The heating system was in constant use, drying the air and stirring up dust.

The large triple-pane windows in the living/dining area (which cost roughly 20 percent more than double-pane glazing) have dramatically reduced noise from the outdoors and helped stabilize indoor temperatures year-round. (Tour Factory/One Sky Homes)

Other factors fueled the couple's desire to make some changes. Charlotte, an excellent cook, yearned for an updated kitchen with more storage space. The master bath needed a makeover, too.

Clearly, changes were needed.

At about the time this realization set in some two years ago, Jerry had been exploring information about "passive houses," which incorporate an extremely energy-efficient construction concept and building standard, in which living comfort, air quality and durability are paramount.

'Conscious building'

The first passive houses were built in Germany in 1990. About 25,000 certified structures are now found in Europe, but only relatively few exist in the United States. According to Passive House California (http://passivehousecal.org), an organization formed to educate the public about passive homes, roughly 40 such residences (both certified and uncertified) have been built in the greater Bay Area.

"The principles on airtightness, super insulation, how it all fits together as a system -- the idea really clicked with me," says Jerry, who pored over websites such as http://www.passivehousecal.org to learn all he could. "You'd think in the Bay Area there would be a good concentration of this kind of forward-thinking, conscious building, but the number is still very small."

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A home transformed for 'high performance'