Brooklyn’s First Passive House Condo Building Rises in Prospect Heights

Brooklyn is quickly becoming a hotbed of passive design, and the borough is set to have another Passive House feather in its cap soon. The <a href="http://www.r-951.com/" target="_blank">R-951 Residence</a> is an ambitious three-story project that is currently under construction in Prospect Heights. When complete, the building is expected to be the first net-zero, solar-powered, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/passive-house" target="_blank">passive house</a> condo in the area. Built and designed by <a href="http://www.castrucciarchitect.com/" target="_blank">Paul Castrucci Architect</a> and Ray Sage of Race Age, Inc., the three-family residence will feature a net-metered, rooftop solar system to provide enough energy for all three households as well as a backyard, deck and rooftop space for residents to enjoy the outdoors and grow their own food. We're definitely putting ourselves on the waiting list!

Currently under construction, the <a href="http://www.r-951.com/" target="_blank">R-951 Residence</a> in Brooklyn is aiming to become the first net zero, solar powered, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/passive-house" target="_blank">passive house</a> condo project in the area. Designed by <a href="http://www.castrucciarchitect.com/" target="_blank">Paul Castrucci Architect</a> and builder Ray Sage, of Race Age, Inc, the three unit walkup is a unique project with an ultra-efficient design, tight and highly insulated multi-family residence. A net-metered, rooftop solar system provides enough energy for all three tenants and backyard, deck and roof top space provide plenty of room to spend time outdoors and grow their own food.

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Located at 951 Pacific Street, the <a href="http://www.r-951.com/" target="_blank">R-951 Residence</a> is named for its resilience and high R-value along with its address.

Finally, the top unit is another three-bedroom unit with access to two larger roof top decks.

<a href="http://www.castrucciarchitect.com/" target="_blank">Paul Castrucci Architect</a> designed the home to meet Passive House standards with tight, thermal insulation, solar passive design and energy efficient systems.

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The bottom residence is a two-bedroom unit with access to the back yard.

A recent blower door test resulted in a air tightness rating of 0.04 ACH, which surpasses the Passive House standard of 0.06 ACH.

Inside the narrow row house are three homes, each about 1,500 sq ft each.

The middle unit is a three-bedroom unit with a small deck on the front and a larger on in the back.

Each unit is equipped with mini split heating and cooling systems along with Heat Recovery Ventilation, and heat pump water heaters to minimize energy use.

Built with ICFs and triple-glazed high performance windows, the building's envelope minimizes energy losses.

Visitors tour the R-951 Residence during an Open House.

Highly insulated envelope and construction continues on the interior.

A blower door test is conducted and a cut of the triple glazed, high performance windows.