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These residents are building energy-efficient homes that retain heat

These residents are building energy-efficient homes that retain heat
BUILDERS ABOUT WHAT IS CALLED áPASSIVE HOUSING.á <TALIA STANDUP> HERE ON FRONT STREET.. THE PORTLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY IS REDEVELOPING THIS AREA INTO MORE THAN 100 áAFFORDABLE PASSIVE HOUSING UNITS. <VO> PASSIVE HOUSING IS AN AIRTIGHT HOME, WELL- INSULATED, SO IT MAINTAINS A COMFORTABLE INTERNAL TEMPERATURE YEAR-ROUND.. WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A FURNACE. <SOT JAY WATERMAN / DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PHA> 1;26 "ONE THING YOU'LL NOTICE IS THE WALLS ARE THICKER THAN A TYPICAL 2 BY 6 CONSTRUCTION WALL." 1;34 "WE HAVE CONTINUOUS INSULATION AROUND THE WHOLE OUTSIDE OF BUILDING." <VO> APARTMENTS WILL RANGE FROM STUDIOS TO 5 BEDROOMS.. THAT'LL GO FOR 977 TO 21-HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH. ZACKEAU CONSTRUCTION IS THE PROJECT CONTRACTOR.. AND UTILE, IS THE PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT.. JAY WATERMAN WITH THE PORTLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY SAYS THE PASSIVE HOUSING BUILD IS A 3 PERCENT INCREASED COST UPFRONT.. BUT IS OFFSET BY LOW MONTHLY ENERGY COSTS. <SOT JAY WATERMAN / DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PHA> 4;15 "HEATING COSTS ARE 80-90% LESS THAN A TYPICAL CODE BUILDING." 2;49 "IF YOU SEE RIGHT HERE WE HAVE ABOUT A 2 FOOT STRIP OF ELECTRICAL BASEBOARD." <VO> WATERMAN SAYS THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.. WILL HELP RENT- BURDENED MAINERS AVOID HAVING TO PAY EXTREMELY HIGH UTILITY BILLS. <SOT JAY WATERMAN / DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PHA> 7;09 "OUR REWARD IS HAVING A VERY ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT." <BUTT> <SOT CHRISTI HISSONG / PROPER MODERN HOME> 00;14;36;12 - 00;14;56;19 "YOU ARE MINIMIZING THE DEMAND OF ENERGY THAT YOU'RE PLACING NOT ONLY ON YOUR OWN POCKET, BUT ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE." <VO> CHRISTI HISSONG, WITH PROPER MODERN HOME CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, IS ALSO THE OWNER OF A PASSIVE HOME GOING UP IN KENNEBUNK. DURING THE COLD SNAP IN FEBRUARY.. WITH WIND CHILLS IN THE NEGATIVE 30'S.. HISSONG'S HOME MAINTAINED AN INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 46 DEGREES. <SOT CHRISTI HISSONG / PROPER MODERN HOME> 00;11;11;08 - 00;11;13;14 "EVEN WITH THE HOME BEING INCOMPLETE AND UNHEATED." <VO> HISSONG SAYS PASSIVE HOMES KEEP THE OUTSIDE OUT AND THE INSIDE IN.. UNLIKE MANY OLDER HOMES WHERE HEAT ESCAPES THROUGH THE CRACKS. <SOT CHRISTI HISSONG / PROPER MODERN HOME> 00;02;38;23 - 00;03;01;14 "SO THESE HOUSES HAVE AN AIR OF SYSTEM, WHICH IS AN ENERGY RECOVERY, VENTILATION SYSTEM, WHICH TAKES SOME OF THE STALE AIR OUT OF THIN AIR, OUT OF THE HOME, AND INTRODUCES FRESH, FILTERED AIR THAT PASSES OVER AN AIR EXCHANGER AND SO THESE ARE AIR CHANGES ARE DESIGNED TO BASICALLY PREHEAT THE AIR THAT'S COMING IN." 00;14;57;01 - 00;15;20;17 "WE'RE CREATING LESS DEMAND FROM THE GRID OR LESS FOSSIL FUEL USAGE." <VO>
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These residents are building energy-efficient homes that retain heat
Passive housing projects are popping up across the state of Maine. These air-tight homes are well-insulated to maintain comfortable internal temperatures year-round, without the need for a furnace. Passive homes are designed to use as little energy as possible.Christi Hissong owns a proper modern home construction company and is the owner of a passive home going up in Kennebunk. She said although passive home building can cost more upfront, it is offset by low monthly energy costs. During the cold snap with wind chills in the negative 30s, Hissong said her home maintained an internal temperature of 46 degrees even with the home being incomplete and unheated. "You are minimizing the demand of energy that you're placing not only on your own pocket, but on society as a whole," she said.The Portland Housing Authority is working with Zachau Construction and Utile to redevelop an area of Front Street into 100 affordable passive housing units. Jay Waterman, Director of Real Estate Development for the Portland Housing Authority, said the build is a 3% increased cost upfront compared to a non-passive housing build. Waterman said overall operating costs are reduced drastically, adding, "Heating costs are 80-90% less than a typical code building."Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

Passive housing projects are popping up across the state of Maine. These air-tight homes are well-insulated to maintain comfortable internal temperatures year-round, without the need for a furnace. Passive homes are designed to use as little energy as possible.

Christi Hissong owns a proper modern home construction company and is the owner of a passive home going up in Kennebunk. She said although passive home building can cost more upfront, it is offset by low monthly energy costs. During the cold snap with wind chills in the negative 30s, Hissong said her home maintained an internal temperature of 46 degrees even with the home being incomplete and unheated.

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"You are minimizing the demand of energy that you're placing not only on your own pocket, but on society as a whole," she said.

The Portland Housing Authority is working with Zachau Construction and Utile to redevelop an area of Front Street into 100 affordable passive housing units.

Jay Waterman, Director of Real Estate Development for the Portland Housing Authority, said the build is a 3% increased cost upfront compared to a non-passive housing build. Waterman said overall operating costs are reduced drastically, adding, "Heating costs are 80-90% less than a typical code building."

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.