Urban Evolution: Embracing Energy Efficiency in City Living

The owners were looking for an energy-conscious green builder for their home in downtown Portland.  It’s located on an incredibly tight site with neighbors to the south, a beautiful garden to preserve in the west, a house to the north, and a stone wall to the east.  With the parameters of the site being immensely tight, communication and planning became extremely important for the coordination of tradespeople and delivery of materials and machinery.

To assess the home’s air tightness, blower door testing was conducted. This involved using a fan system to simulate outdoor conditions and measure air pressure, determining how much air escapes through any openings. Impressively, the home achieved an air change rate of 0.73 per hour, surpassing the passive house standard for its size. This highlights the successful integration of energy-efficient design and construction techniques.