Big news from N. State Street! Chuckanut Builders now has THREE Passive House Certified folks on the team. Forest Chiavario (Partner & COO), Dan Skillman (Lieutenant Carpenter) and Greta Nelson (Site Lead) all recently passed their exams and are officially certified to build a passive home. Please join us in wishing them hearty congratulations!
A quick re-cap on what Passive House construction is. Passive House building is the gold standard for energy-efficient construction. It’s a concept defined by 5 key qualities: Low energy use, no condensation risk, comfortable surface temperatures, cost-effectiveness, and air sealing for durability. In short, passive houses are durable, healthy, and comfortable spaces that can be enjoyed for generations. This building practice is extremely versatile– applicable to new buildings and retrofitted spaces alike. The techniques used result in immediate and ongoing energy savings, reduce the carbon footprint of the home and ensure long-term energy efficiency. Passive house design makes use of energy sources within the building such as body heat and solar heat entering the building, while high-performance windows and a sealed building envelope ensure that the intentional ventilation systems can consistently supply fresh air with no air leaks.
It was important to use that a handful of folks were certified, this ensures that we continue to work in line with our values and develop the skills of our crew to build the most efficient homes possible. We see this level of certification as a commitment to sustainable building and an investment in a healthy community.
Forest Chiavario (Partner & COO), said of the Passive House: “Passive House building is one of the highest standards for high-performance buildings on the planet. It has been both a personal and business goal since the inception of Chuckanut Builders to build truly green, resilient, beautiful and efficient homes. We have a responsibility to the planet, our clients and the community to deliver this level of product. Passive House Certification is another step towards maintaining excellence in building.”
When we asked Dan Skillman (Lieutenant Carpenter) why he chose to go through the rigors of classes and the exam, he said: “I’m all for building homes that will last a lifetime, hopefully multiple. Airtight, heat recovery, energy efficiency, all of those passive house ideals are excellent but without longevity, what have we gained in regard to a sustainable future? Once I learned the passive house movement stood for longevity and building a resilient, long-lasting structure, it was a no-brainer.”
Greta Nelson, a longtime Chuckanut Site Lead who will soon be overseeing the construction of a high performance new home on a regenerative farm in Bow said: “Just like eating fresh produce from a garden provides better-tasting nutrient-dense nourishment for the body and soul while celebrating the environment; building shelters that protect you from the elements while also considering its impact on the environment nourishes the body and soul.
I hope that this certification communicates to clients that I am passionate about providing a high quality beautifully crafted space and a high-performing, environmentally conscious one — and that they want me to build it!”
We’re proud to be on the short list of builders in Whatcom County who are Passive House certified and we’re eager to teach folks on the crew about the systems and techniques that go into building these beautiful, durable, healthy and efficient homes.
by Intellitonic