The pros and cons of working with a design team to do a passive house retrofit
Passive house retrofits are becoming increasingly popular as people worldwide are starting to prioritize environmental stewardship and efficiency. Passive houses are energy-efficient homes that consume 90% less heating and cooling energy and have 70% less overall energy consumption than a traditional home. After you’ve made the big decision to retrofit your pre-existing home so it can meet passive house standards (hyperlink here to the article about certification), the process of renovating your house begins. There are many factors to consider when doing a passive house retrofit. One crucial component is determining whether or not you’d like to work with a design team to make your vision come to life.
The Pros:
- Design teams are professionals who will ensure that you have a smooth process throughout the redesign of your home.
- Your home will meet passive house criteria for quality, comfort and energy efficiency.
- You can remain an integral part of the project without contributing manual labor.
- The team can share ideas, solutions to possible issues that may arise, and combine manual work to ensure that your home becomes an incredible passive house while incorporating your unique style and tastes.
- Your project is much more likely to be completed on time.
The Cons:
- It is more expensive to hire a design team than to do it yourself.
- If you’re a hands-on person, you may dislike giving so much deciding power to the design team.
- There will be people working inside your house for an extended period, which can cause some discomfort or inconvenience.
Hiring a design team to do a passive house retrofit is a personal decision that you must make. It’s essential to make informed decisions, especially with big decisions like this one. We encourage you to take the time to weigh out the pros and cons before starting your project.
