Case Study: A Passive Green Home Built for Comfort, Health & Efficiency

When architects Larry Marner and Elisabeth Post-Marner of Marner + Marner Architects set out to design a new home for their family, they had clear goals in mind: comfort, sustainability, and health. As both the homeowners and architects, they envisioned a residence that embraced energy efficiency, fossil-fuel-free operation, and indoor air quality—all while fitting beautifully into a sloped, wooded site in North Stamford, Connecticut. Working with BPC Green Builders, Larry and Elisabeth brought that vision to life. The result is a 2,100 square foot modern home that meets rigorous green building standards and was honored with the 2021 DOE Housing Innovation Award. Designed to meet Passive House standards—though not formally certified—it shows how thoughtful design and expert custom green home construction can deliver an energy-efficient and comfortable home.

Sustainable Building Goals for a Passive Home Design

From the outset, the homeowner had four key objectives:

Create a home able to produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year (net zero energy) after solar panels are installed.
Avoid the use of fossil fuels, opting for all-electric appliances that reduce the home's carbon footprint.
Minimize the home’s overall environmental impact, from construction materials to land use.
Promote wellness with a healthy indoor environment that supports the family’s quality of life.

These goals aligned with BPC’s strength and expertise in building green homes that perform beautifully, inside and out.

Smart Design, Thoughtful Construction

Built into a hillside and bordered by conservation land, the home leans into the environment surrounding it. Large, strategically placed windows allow for solar gain in the winter and shaded comfort in the summer. Inside, a single-level open layout creates a connected living space. BPC’s team worked closely with the architect to ensure every detail—from insulation to mechanical ventilation systems—was optimized to reduce energy use, prevent air leaks, and maintain healthy indoor air quality. This level of performance isn’t always visible to the eye, but it’s felt by the homeowners through:

Even temperatures throughout the home, regardless of the season
Quieter indoor spaces, thanks to the thick, well-insulated walls
Filtered, fresh air for health and comfort
Low energy bills, with the potential for further savings once solar panels are added

Craftsmanship That Honors the Site

The home’s design is as functional as it is striking. Half of the structure is supported by columns, floating above the sloping lot below. This approach minimized disruption to the land while putting the living room and main bedroom at “treehouse” level. Exposed glulam wood beams carry through from the ceiling of the living area and provide sun shading on the exterior. Inside, large-format tile in the main bathroom adds visual interest, while solar tubes bring daylight deep into both bathrooms of the home.

Passive Home Design: Using Natural Light & Solar Heating

You’ve probably heard the term Passive House before, but what does it really mean? At its core, Passive House design is about using sunlight, shade, and insulation to do the heavy lifting when it comes to heating and cooling. The idea is to reduce the home’s energy demand so mechanical systems play a supporting role—not a starring one. This home exemplifies that philosophy.

The house is oriented to capture sunlight in the cooler months, with large south-facing windows that allow natural heat to warm the interior spaces.
Exterior sunshades, placed over the same windows, block the summer sun, which is at a higher angle, reducing unwanted heat gain and minimizing the need for air conditioning.
Throughout the day, abundant daylight floods the home, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a bright, inviting interior.
Energy modeling and sun path diagrams were used early in the design process to fine-tune window placement and roof overhangs, ensuring a balance of solar gain and glare control.

These Passive House-driven strategies don’t just save energy. They make the home more comfortable, more livable, and more connected to its natural surroundings.

Project In Process

Building Science Behind the Walls—And What It Means for the Homeowner

This home was built with a deep understanding of building science principles that prioritize comfort, energy efficiency, and durability. Some of the strategies BPC used include:

Super-insulated envelope: With insulation that far exceeds standard new home construction levels, this home maintains stable temperatures with very little mechanical heating or cooling.
Airtight construction: With a tested air leakage rate of just 0.75 air changes per hour, the home is extremely resistant to unwanted drafts, moisture, and heat loss.
Triple-glazed windows: European-style tilt-turn windows provide superior thermal performance and help regulate indoor temperature year-round.
Energy recovery ventilation (ERV): This essential system continuously replaces stale indoor air with fresh, filtered air while conserving energy.
All-electric heating, cooling, and water heating: High-efficiency heat pumps for heating, cooling, and water heating eliminate the need for fossil fuels entirely.

All of the above help create a home that’s more comfortable to live in—and less expensive to run. In fact, this home has:

An average estimated monthly energy cost of just $160
Annual savings of approximately $3,100 compared to a conventionally built new home
A projected $125,000+ in energy savings over the first 30 years, even after accounting for rising energy prices

These savings are real and measurable. But what’s even more valuable is the peace of mind that comes from living in a home that’s built to perform not just today but long into the future.

Accolades, Certifications & Awards for This Sustainable CT Home

Certified Zero Energy Ready Home
ENERGY STAR Certified
Passive House Design (*Homeowner opted to forego certification)
HERS Score: 34 (expected to reach 0 once solar is installed)
2021 DOE Housing Innovation Award Winner
Named “Best Green Energy-Efficient Custom Home” by the CT Chapter of the National Association of Home Builders

A Blueprint for Healthy, Sustainable Living

By focusing on airtight construction, super-insulated walls and ceilings, and an all-electric design, BPC Green Builders worked with the owner/architects, Laurence and Elisabeth Marner, to create a home that’s prepared for the future, both environmentally and economically. But beyond the metrics, this house simply feels good to live in. It’s quiet, comfortable, and clean. It’s light-filled, low-maintenance, and tailored precisely to how the family lives. And because it was designed with passive and sustainable strategies from day one, it will continue delivering comfort and savings for decades to come.

Find a Trusted Green Home Builder in CT & NY

If you’re planning to build a custom home in Fairfield County, Western Connecticut, or the nearby areas of New York’s Hudson Valley, and want to explore what a healthy, high-performance home could look like for you, BPC Green Builders would love to talk. Whether you’ve chosen an architect or need one, we’ll help turn your vision of a sustainable home into reality