Developing the Passive House

THE COMMON ECOLOGY PASSIVE HOUSE PROJECT

The Common Ecology Passive House Project, currently under development by Brennan + Company Architects, will create a sustainable housing development model that is affordable, can be immediately deployed and has the potential to mitigate residential impacts on climate change.

The Common Ecology Passive House will apply both ancient and innovative passive heating and cooling techniques to achieve a dramatic reduction in energy demands. A symbiotic relationship between the home, the landscape, the thermal mass of the earth and the energy of the sun will accommodate almost all energy demand. Remaining energy demand will be met entirely with on-site renewable energy generation.

Building materials will be sourced locally - from the site itself or the surrounding local community - whenever possible to reduce the carbon footprint and cost of construction as well as operation. Water conservation and natural storm water management practices will reduce stress on local water sources and protect the precious Chesapeake watershed.

Tennessee Flying V

This house is located in rural Tennessee at the ridge point of the old family farm. Our clients had a dream vacation house in mind. Their dream house had to be as self-sufficient as possible and have a low environmental impact. In every respect, they believed that small would be better.


The house is 2500 conditioned square feet, slab-on-grade with radiant floors. It has been properly orientation through careful sun studies of the site. Appropriate overhangs and shading devices were added to enhance the energy efficiency.

The lumber for the house is wood milled from trees on the site. We also reuse timbers from a local barn. The house is designed with geothermal heating and cooling and solar electric panels. To add to the efficiency of the house, the north wall is strawbale. A green roof caps the project.

Local, renewable, durable, recycled materials are used throughout the interior and exterior. Environmentally friendly and money saving resource efficient equipment is also used. There are energy design details too numerous to discuss in a blog post. This is a project that meets and then exceeds our client's hopes. We like that in a house.

Sherwood Forest : Neighborhood Bungalow

This residential project is located in the lovely enclave of Sherwood Forest. The property sits on a steep ravine, on a very narrow site. The view (above) from the property to the Severn River is irreplaceable.
Our clients are deconstructing the existing house because it is seriously deteriorated. It will be replaced by the 3200 square foot design shown above.

Rear of House - looking out toward the river

We have worked closely with the neighborhood guidelines and local zoning officials to meet strict neighborhood and zoning covenants. This project is designed to maintain the historic bungalow character of the neighborhood, while at the same time incorporating many green features. The heating and cooling of the house will generated by a geothermal installation. We will be salvaging and reusing most of the existing fixtures such as hardware, lumber and hardwood floors. Expanding the green ideal, we will be using only local and renewable materials on the interior and exterior. Further, the design incorporates high insulation values and resource efficient fixtures.

Browns Go Green

The Brown family residence is located in Granite, Maryland on the ridge of a quiet wooded site. The Browns were clear about wanting to incorporate energy saving ideas into the design of their new home.


The north side of the house is earth sheltered. All the rooms were designed to have a south facing wall for maximum energy efficiency.

Many environmentally useful features were included in this 2800 sf home. They include the slab-on-grade foundation and radiant floors. Other added features include reclaimed timber structure, and structurally insulated panel (SIP) roof and wall construction. In addition local, renewable and recycled materials were integrated into the interior and exterior.
The placement of appropriate shading and overhangs were determined by using thorough, detailed sun studies. When you consider resource efficient equipment, a rain garden, and all the additional features that were incorporated into the design, you could fairly say, the Browns were effectively greened.

This project designed by Carri Harlan in association with Julie Gabrielli, while at Terralogos.

Takoma Park : Sustainable Community

The Epstein residence is located in the well-established Takoma Park neighborhood in Maryland, the first planned commuter suburb in the region. The Takoma Park area is the home to multi-gabled affairs of Queen Anne Architecture with Stick Style and Shingle Style influence.


The owners deconstructed a small house and replaced it with this 4500 square foot residence. Much effort was put into designing this modern house so that it fit into the proportion and historic character of the neighborhood.


This residence is rich with green features: radiant floors, high efficiency mechanical equipment, resource efficient fixtures and appliances. All the interior and exterior wood trim is from reclaimed sources. It also incorporates wheatcore doors and durable materials, as well as local, renewable and recycled materials throughout the interior and exterior.

Takoma Park is a unique, historic neighborhood. This house fits nicely into its context and also achieves a full range of sustainable living solutions.

This house with designed by Carri Harlan in collaboration with Julie Gabrielli while at terralogos ecoarchitecture.