by Shane Henson — May 13, 2013—Stevenson School, a co-educational day and boarding school in California, is teaching both its students and staff about sustainability through its recent completion of the Johnson House, a new faculty townhouse built on the Pebble Beach campus that is a model of energy efficiency.
The townhouse, comprised of two 2,400-square-feet, two-story residential units each with detached two-car garages, was designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop in San Francisco and built by Avila Construction of Monterey. The residential units were designed and built to Passive House requirements, which require energy-efficient detailing specifications and construction strategies be integrated into the design and construction.
The school notes that the Passive House concept is a proven model in Europe, but in its infancy stage in the United States. According to the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), there are very few projects in California, and the Johnson House is the first such house built by a high school. Passive Houses are built for quality, comfort and energy efficiency, and require very little energy to achieve a comfortable temperature year round, making conventional heating and air conditioning systems obsolete. While delivering superior levels of comfort, the Passive House Standard also protects the building structure.
The materials needed to build a Passive House add about 10 to 15 percent to the cost of conventional construction materials and design. However, the concept represents today’s highest energy standard, reducing the heating energy consumption of buildings by up to 90 percent, the school says. Stevenson School consulted with Passive House experts, Integral Impact Inc. of San Francisco, throughout the project.
“With the completion of our new Johnson House—designed under Passive House protocols—we anticipate a reduction of up to 80 percent of heating related costs and a significant reduction in other energy related impacts as well,” said Mark Hornberger, Stevenson School chairman of the board.
