A Passive House in New Brunswick Gets a Touch of Romanian Flair
Last Updated: Apr 13, 2025Ryan and Teo Strynatka are the proud homeowners of this Romanian inspired Passive House marvel. Thanks to Southern Exposure and Thoughtful Dwellings, it is also one of the most airtight homes in Canada (Penniac, NB).
This gem is truly one of a kind: with the aesthetic charm of Teo's home country, stunning views, and plenty of solar gains, this home is nothing short of impressive.
Table of Contents
- Why They Did it?
- Why Anyone/Everyone Can Build This Way
- Passive House Doesn't Have to be Complicated
- Visit a Passive House
- Why We Love it
- Details
Why They Did it?
For Ryan and Teo, choosing to build the way they did come down to this:
We were living in an incredibly energy inefficient home when we made the decision to build, so we started out simply thinking about efficiency. We had never heard about passive housing and weren't even aware of it being an option. However, after a recommendation from a colleague and some initial research, we checked out a local passive house and were inspired by not only the efficiency but also the building "fundamentals" of passive housing.
Given our local climate, it felt like building passive would be a great fit for us. - Ryan Strynatka
Taking this a step further, anyone who cares about the following may want to take a second look at building Passive:
- unmatched comfort
- superb air quality
- extremely resilient building
- the path to net-zero
These are the principles behind Passive House (Passiv Haus) - the emerging home building standard that is gaining popularity worldwide and paving the way for high-performance homes. Read more about Passive House HERE.
Why Anyone/Everyone Can Build This Way
Although Passive Homes may seem extreme for some when it comes to designing and building a new home, it's clear from these homeowners that it doesn't have to be complicated, and is about paying attention to the right things:
It is a great way to live - with very significant energy savings over time. We found ourselves entirely warm throughout the winter, and the constant intake and circulation of fresh air translate into better air quality. Consistent temperatures and the lack of "cold spots" were a tremendous improvement over our previous living situation. Another consideration is that building passive forces you to think about the effective use of space. It doesn't need to be more expensive than a conventional build if you're willing to compromise on the square footage or design more effectively. - Ryan Strynatka
Energy Saving Products for the Home
Shop home improvement products that help save and conserve energy (power) in your home.
Vents TwinFresh Comfo RA1-50-2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator
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AFM Safecoat Almighty Adhesive Case of 12
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Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 8/10-2 Plus Point-of-Use Electric Tankless Water Heater - 202145
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Why We Love it
- One of the most air-tight homes in Canada
- Incomparable Comfort
- Solar Hot water heater
- Siding from locally harvested and milled white cedar.
- Roofing is made from recycled rubber and plastic and is a local product.
- Cellulose insulation made locally & from recycled newsprint.
Rise
At Rise, we strive to make sustainable home improvement easy and accessible for everyone. Whether you're building or renovating, our thoroughly vetted building products will help you reduce your carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and create a more sustainable living or working environment.
