Passive House verification provides rigorous third-party confirmation that your home meets extremely high standards for energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality. It's like getting a gold star for your house - it validates all the careful design and construction work that went into creating an ultra-high performance building. Plus, it can be a great selling point if you ever decide to move.

Initially, yes - Passive House construction typically costs about 5-10% more upfront than standard construction. But the long-term savings on energy bills and increased comfort make it worthwhile for many clients. It's an investment in quality that pays dividends for decades. And as the techniques become more mainstream, we're seeing that cost premium shrink.

In most cases, yes! We can retrofit heat pumps to work with existing hydronic systems, though it may require some modifications. The key is ensuring your radiators can provide enough heat at the lower water temperatures that heat pumps produce. We'll assess your specific situation and recommend the best approach to electrify your heating while keeping those charming radiators.

Absolutely. Proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining healthy indoor air quality, especially in a tightly-sealed, energy-efficient home. It removes pollutants, controls moisture, and provides fresh air. While it's an investment upfront, the long-term benefits to your health and comfort are invaluable. Plus, heat recovery ventilation systems can actually save you money on heating and cooling costs.

Triple glazed windows do cost more initially, but they're a key component of a high-performance building envelope. They dramatically reduce heat loss, eliminate cold spots near windows, and even help with soundproofing. For many of our clients, the improved comfort and energy savings make them well worth the investment. It's about looking at the big picture of home performance, not just upfront costs.

Tilt/turn windows are a versatile European-style window that can open two ways - they tilt inward from the top for ventilation, or swing open fully like a door. They provide excellent air sealing, security, and ease of cleaning. While they're not as common in the US, we love using them in our projects for their functionality and energy performance. Once clients try them, they're usually hooked!