Building in the 21st Century: Building Passive, Affordable Housing

In late 2013, the Washington, D.C. chapter of Habitat for Humanity began construction on six “passive” town houses in the Ivy City community in Northeast D.C. These homes, which incorporate elements of the Empowerhouse designed by students in the 2011 Solar Decathlon, employ building technologies such as solar heating and energy recovery ventilation and allow Habitat residents to consume significantly less energy while creating more affordable, sustainable lifestyles. Andrew Modley, production manager at Habitat for Humanity, discusses the project design and construction in this lunchtime event at the National Building Museum.