What Is High Performance Home Building?

High performance home building is an approach to residential design and construction that prioritizes energy efficiency, durability, occupant health, comfort, and performance as an integrated system. Washtenaw County, Michigan is located in the USDA Hardiness Zone 6a where we have range from offensively cold winters to desperately hot and humid summers. Through conventional building methods, this often leads to a larger demand of energy to keep your interior home comfortable.

A high performance home is not defined by a single certification the way that Passive Home Standards are. We define high performance by measurable outcomes that is verified through testing, modeling, and commissioning rather than assumed based on materials alone.

In practice, this looks like:

• A well insulated building envelope that minimizes air leakage and thermal bridging

  
  

• Efficient mechanical systems

  
  

• Controlled ventilation that delivers fresh air while managing humidity and pollutants

  
  

• Moisture management strategies that protect durability and prevent mold or rot

  
  

• Thoughtful material selection that balances performance, longevity, and occupant health

The end result is a home that feels quieter, more comfortable, and more stable across seasons while using significantly less energy to operate.

High Performance, Green Building, Passive House, LEED - what's the difference?

While often used interchangeably, several building terms reflect different priorities:

• Energy Efficiency focuses narrowly on reducing energy consumption, often through efficient equipment or insulation, without necessarily addressing durability or occupant health.

  
  

• Green Building emphasizes environmental impact and material sustainability, including water use, waste reduction, and resource sourcing.

  
  

• High Performance Building integrates energy efficiency, comfort, durability, health, and resilience, with a strong emphasis on measured performance.

  
  

• Passive Building (Passive House) is a rigorous performance standard focused on extreme energy reduction through super-insulated, airtight envelopes and minimal heating demand.

  
  

• LEED is a points-based certification system that addresses sustainability broadly, including site selection, materials, water use, and energy, but does not always guarantee operational performance.

High-performance home building represents a shift from minimum building code construction toward intentional, systems-based design that benefits homeowners, builders, and the broader energy infrastructure.

By focusing on performance rather than prescriptive checklists, high performance homes deliver measurable reductions in energy use while improving comfort, health, and long term value. As energy costs and climate pressures increase, high performance building is becoming not just a best practice, but a practical necessity.

Think high performance is the right fit for you or are you interested in knowing more? Let's talk.