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Proving green and affordable can go together A collaborative of academics, community activists and Habitat for Humanity has built a “passive house”in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7 as proof of the ability to build affordable green housing.
Empowerhouse, built in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7, is the District’s first passive house, a dwelling constructed to use substantially less energy.
Martin Seck
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Empowerhouse was a joint project by Parsons the New School for Design, Habitat for Humanity and the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
Martin Seck
Lakiya Culley stands with her sons in her new home. Culley is holding her son Camari, 1. Her son Christopher, 5, is on the left. Her son C.J., 6, is on the right. Culley is the homeowner of the District's first passive house.
Martin Seck
A photo of the Empowerhouse, as it looked as an entry in the 2011 Solar Decathalon on the Mall, sits atop the blueprints. The design, by students at the Parsons the New School of Design, won first place in the affordability category.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Construction on Empowerhouse began in Hoboken, N.J., by Parsons students. After the 2011 Solar Decathlon, the house was moved to Deanwood where Habitat for Humanity took over the building.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Orlando Velez, project operations director, shows off the master bedroom. The upstairs room has two large, triple-pane windows for cross ventilation.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Large, energy-efficient windows on the south side of the house allow lots of natural light into the space.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
The kitchen comes together during the summer. All the appliances are energy efficient.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Empowerhouse’s exterior walls are about 16 inches thick and filled with dense-pack cellulose insulation. In typical home construction, the wiring is run within the walls. In a passive house, the wiring is tucked in a cavity between the insulated walls and the interior wall. This prevents fewer penetrations that would allow heat to enter or escape the home.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Empowerhouse backs onto the Watts Branch tributary. The students who designed and built the house created a community garden down the street. They installed a bioswale along the curb that captures the water running off the street, filters it through the plants, soil and sand before it is delivered into the tributary.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Christopher Steffens, who is on the faculty at Parsons the New School for Design, puts the finishing touches on Empowerhouse before its dedication ceremony.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
This lower portion of Empowerhouse was the section that was entered into the 2011 Solar Decathlon on the Mall. The entry won awards for most affordable and best lighting.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
The kitchen’s eating space provides extra storage.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
In building the house, “We chose materials that are healthy materials,” said Laura Briggs, faculty lead on the project from Parsons the New School for Design.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Habitat for Humanity’s Andrew Modley, who was site supervisor on the project, works on the upstairs deck. The large window on the right floods the space below with light in the summer and winter.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
One of the three bedrooms in Empowerhouse.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Another of the three bedrooms in Empowerhouse.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Planters on the upstairs deck can be used to grow vegetables. “I think that would be cool to have my own fresh vegetables,” homeowner Lakiya Culley said. “The kids like doing it. Deanwood has a neighborhood garden and we went there and volunteered one Saturday. They loved it.”
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Camari Culley, 1, looks out the window of his new home and into the back yard. Lakiya Culley, Camari's mother, is the homeowner of the District's first passive house.
Ashley Hartzell
Christopher Steffens, who is on the faculty at Parsons the New School for Design, walks past the closet containing the vital systems of the house.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
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