New ‘Passive Housing’ in Colorado Springs aims to lessen environmental footprint
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs is well on its way to have its first ever "Passive House" that uses 80% less energy than a traditional home built to current code.
The first one in the city begins construction Monday and is located in western Colorado Springs. The home will be around 2,400 sq. ft. and have a view of Pikes Peak.
Hyperlocal Workshop, the company behind the project, says its homes are built with prefabricated panels and only takes three days to complete. However, the process of designing and building each home requires an extensive process where Hyperlocal Workshop meets with each client and maps out a plan specially tailored to their needs and the plot of land that the home will go on. That process includes both 3D and physical models of the home and consultations on material costs, which vary from project to project. There is also a certification process on each home that must be met before everything is move-in ready.
The new Colorado Springs house will utilize a small heat pump for heating and cooling only when the outside temperatures are extreme, making the home much more energy-efficient and keeping costs low. The homes are also fire-resistant and there are plans to build a few dozen on the Marshall Fire burn scar in Boulder County.
