The Iowa Nest is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2400-sq. ft. passive house in rural southeast Iowa. Key design features include an earth-bermed design (which plays a key role in the home’s energy efficiency), an open-plan living / dining room / kitchen with expansive views of a pond, an underground garage, and a 600-sq. ft. storage area.
The home’s performance to date (since occupancy in June 2019) has exceeded expectations:
- Overall energy use: 5.9 kBTU/sq.ft./yr — 90% less than a conventional new home.
- Baseline energy cost: $10 per month (refrigerator + ERV), with a high of ~$60/mo with full occupancy and very cold weather
- Passive performance: the home can maintain 55 degF inside with -25 degF exterior temperatures … with NO active heating!
You can dive into the complete data on our monitoring page.
Architectural Drawings & Renderings
