Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Iowa State Patrol trooper killed during standoff

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

Iowa OSHA: Anamosa prison didn’t have reliable radios

After border visit, Hinson calls for reinstating Trump policies

Visitor restrictions eased at Cedar Rapids hospitals

Joni Ernst says ‘zero’ chance she will run for president…

Home / Life

Wilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiency

By Molly Rossiter, correspondent Sep. 23, 2017 9:00 pm Updated: Sep. 24, 2017 12:14 am
Wilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiencyWilton house meets Passive House Institute standards in energy efficiency

WILTON - By all appearances, Dan and Michelle Marine's four-story stone house in rural Wilton has little in common with the single-story ranch Michelle's parents, Lynn and Fran Shafer, had their son-in-law build in town earlier this year.

The Marine home sits on a rural acreage shared by the couple's business, Oak Tree Homes, while the Shafers' home is lodged on a town lot across from a retirement center. One house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms and is home to the Marines and their four children; the other is a modest three-bedroom, two-bath home just right for the retired Shafers.

Appearances aside, the two houses share a German-born building design called Passive House, adopted by and administered through the Passive House Institute US. The designed is based on fairly stringent criteria to make the homes - or apartments or commercial buildings - extremely energy efficient without sacrificing comfort and, in some cases, luxury. Buildings are designed with specific insulation, air sealing and energy consumption requirements - continuous insulation throughout the building, triple-pane windows and doors, and an extremely airtight construction along with a ventilation system that reuses heat and moisture from the atmosphere. Buildings rely on solar energy for heating in the cooler months and

to aid in the prevention of overheating in warmer months.

'The shape of the Passive House is very simple,” Dan Marine said. 'You limit the number of corners in these homes, and don't put in as many windows and doors - all of this helps keep the house efficient and minimize leaks. The goal of the Passive House is to reduce energy consumption, and solar energy really helps with that.”

In fact, Marine said, the solar panels generate enough heat that in the winter, his family often opens windows to 'dump” some of the excess heat out of the house.

Although residences are among the most efficient buildings - more than apartments or business buildings - there still is room for savings, said Michael Nolan, founder and architect at Horizon Architecture of Iowa City. Nolan worked with Marine in designing the Shafer home.

'We wanted to look at what more we could do,” Nolan said. 'These Passive Homes are very comfortable homes - the indoor environment is constant, with fresh air recirculating and being reused in other ways. We're just making an extremely comfortable, energy-efficient environment.”

Marine went through the building training program through Passive House Institute US to learn how to build the Passive House for clients, but also for his own home.

'I feel the only way this program is really going to take hold is to build it and let people see what it does,” Marine said. 'So we did.”

The Passive House design controls air intake and output, as well as filters out contaminants and pollutants through an intricate ventilation

system.

In addition to saving energy, Marine said, the Passive House works with water conservation. The water heater has a five-second temperature increase allotment, so less water is going down the drain while you wait for a shower or faucet to get warm.

Overall, Nolan said, the Passive House uses about one-tenth of the energy used by a 'traditional” home, while still looking like any other home.

'Part of the goal is to make it blend so well you don't even notice that it's different,” Nolan said.

The house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Deeply set windows indicate the thickness of the walls as the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. The windows, imported from Europe, tilt open as well as turn. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Threes levels of windows shine on the stairway leading to various levels of the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Deeply set windows indicate the thickness of the walls as the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. The windows, imported from Europe, tilt open as well as turn. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The induction cooktop at the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
A ceiling fan moves air through the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Threes levels of windows shine on the stairway leading to various levels of the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Shelving in the kitchen at the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Deeply set windows indicate the thickness of the walls as the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. The windows, imported from Europe, tilt open as well as turn. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The vestibule area in front of the front door helps keep warm air/cold air in the house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The house of Dan and Michelle Marine in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
An electric heat pump water heater at a Wilton, Iowa, house Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Duct work leads into and out of a heat exchanger at a house in Wilton, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The house was designed and built using passive house principals. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Trending

  • Special events cap IMCA Deery Bros season

    Null

  • Hawkeyes add 6-foot-11 Riley Mulvey for next season

    Mike Hlas

  • Andre the Giant vs. the Cedar Rapids Police: 30 years…

    Lee Hermiston

  • Cyclist hit Wednesday in Coralville dies

    Lee Hermiston

  • American Airlines adds flight from Cedar Rapids to Phoenix

    Null

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

A photographer's tribute to trees lost in the Iowa derecho

A photographer's tribute to trees lost in the Iowa derecho

Andy Abeyta Community Dec. 22, 2020 12:36 pm

Replanting the landscape: Turn the derecho disaster into opportunity

Replanting the landscape: Turn the derecho disaster into opportunity

By Kelli Kennon-Lane Living Oct. 23, 2020 5:51 pm

Time Machine: The history of Belmont Hill mansion in Cedar…

Time Machine: The history of Belmont Hill mansion in Cedar…

History Nov. 10, 2020 2:07 pm

Life

Sowing Success

Sowing Success

Dorothy de Souza Guedes

Home & Garden Apr. 11, 2021 1:45 pm

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Community

Recreation Apr. 9, 2021 12:46 pm

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Diana Nollen

Community Apr. 7, 2021 2:03 pm

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Rod Boshart

State Government Apr. 6, 2021 9:59 pm

Home & Garden

The gardener’s gardener is ready for spring at Fairfax Greenhouse

The gardener’s gardener is ready for spring at Fairfax Greenhouse

By Steve Gravelle, correspondent

Business News Apr. 5, 2021 12:32 pm

Signing on dotted line to buy a house is just…

Signing on dotted line to buy a house is just…

By Erin Owen, correspondent

Home & Garden Apr. 2, 2021 11:22 am

Up on the roof: A look at what goes into…

Up on the roof: A look at what goes into…

By Jessica Carney, for The Gazette

Home & Garden Mar. 29, 2021 5:25 pm

Finding space for vegetables

Finding space for vegetables

By Veronica Lorson Fowler, correspondent

Home & Garden Mar. 28, 2021 11:31 am

News

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Hari Michele Osofsky is first University of Iowa presidential finalist…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 28m ago

Linn and Johnson outpace state in rate of adults completing…

Linn and Johnson outpace state in rate of adults completing…

John McGlothlen

News Apr. 11, 2021 3:41 pm

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Michaela Ramm

Health Care and Medicine Apr. 11, 2021 12:04 pm

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

CANCELED: Operation Quickfind issued for Marion boy

The Gazette

Crime and Courts Apr. 11, 2021 11:40 am

Sports

Metro duo produce for fifth-ranked Louisville baseball

Metro duo produce for fifth-ranked Louisville baseball

K.J. Pilcher

Sports 4h ago

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:50 pm

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Gazette Visuals

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:34 pm

Kirkwood advances to NJCAA D-II women’s basketball tournament

Kirkwood advances to NJCAA D-II women’s basketball tournament

Justin Webster

Sports Apr. 10, 2021 7:25 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company