Engineering Excellence for Net-Zero, Resilient, Regenerative Built Environments
Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They also profoundly shape human health, comfort, productivity, and quality of life. KeenWorks delivers high-performance building design and development that dramatically reduces environmental impact while enhancing occupant experience and long-term economic value.
Our building expertise spans new construction and deep retrofits, residential and commercial applications, single buildings and community-scale developments. Whether pursuing net-zero energy, Passive House certification, water independence, or comprehensive regenerative performance, we deliver measured outcomes backed by building science rigor and construction expertise.
Net-Zero & Passive House Design
Net-Zero Energy: A net-zero energy building produces as much renewable energy as it consumes over the course of a year, achieving zero net carbon emissions from operations. This requires radical efficiency to minimize demand combined with appropriately scaled renewable generation to meet remaining needs.
Our net-zero approach follows a clear hierarchy:
- Reduce Loads: Optimize envelope performance, eliminate thermal bridges, maximize airtightness, specify high-performance windows
- Efficient Systems: Deploy high-efficiency heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems
- Renewable Generation: Size solar PV or other renewable systems to balance annual consumption
- Monitor & Verify: Install monitoring systems and conduct performance verification to ensure targets are met
This hierarchy ensures we pursue cost-effective efficiency before adding generation capacity—avoiding the common mistake of oversized solar systems compensating for inefficient buildings.
[PROOF POINT: Net-zero projects completed; measured energy performance (kBtu/sf/year); percentage of design predictions achieved; solar system sizes relative to building size]
Passive House Standard: Passive House (Passivhaus) represents the world’s most rigorous voluntary building performance standard. Originating in Germany and now applied globally, it specifies measurable criteria:
- Space heating/cooling demand ≤ 4.75 kBtu/sf/year
- Primary energy demand ≤ 38 kBtu/sf/year (including appliances and plug loads)
- Airtightness ≤ 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure
- Thermal comfort criteria ensuring no excessive temperature swings
Achieving Passive House certification requires:
Super-Insulated Envelopes: R-values far exceeding code minimums—roof assemblies of R-60 to R-80, walls R-40 to R-60, slabs R-30 to R-50. Insulation is continuous with meticulous attention to thermal bridge elimination at corners, penetrations, and junctions.
Exceptional Windows: Triple-pane windows with U-values of 0.14-0.20 and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients optimized for climate and orientation. Window installation details prevent thermal bridging and air leakage at the critical envelope-to-frame interface.
Airtight Construction: Achieving 0.6 ACH50 requires comprehensive air barrier systems with every penetration detailed and sealed. We design clear air barrier systems, specify appropriate materials, and verify through blower door testing at rough-in when corrections are still feasible.
Heat Recovery Ventilation: Continuous mechanical ventilation through HRV or ERV systems that recover 75-95% of thermal energy from exhaust air. This ensures excellent indoor air quality while minimizing ventilation heat loss—critical in super-insulated buildings where ventilation becomes the dominant heat loss mechanism.
Thermal Bridge Free Design: Every envelope penetration, structural connection, and assembly junction is analyzed for thermal bridging and detailed to maintain continuous insulation and air barrier integrity.
[PROOF POINT: Passive House projects designed/built; airtightness levels achieved; energy performance data; certification bodies worked with]
Our Regenerative Community Development work extensively applies Passive House principles to compact, affordable homes, demonstrating that extraordinary performance is achievable at accessible price points. These same principles inform deep energy retrofits of existing buildings and high-performance industrial facilities in our Manufacturing & Services practice.
Deep Energy Retrofits & Decarbonization
Existing buildings represent both our largest climate challenge and opportunity. The vast majority of buildings that will exist in 2050 already exist today. Transforming this existing stock through deep energy retrofits is essential for decarbonization.
Deep Energy Retrofit Approach: We define deep energy retrofits as achieving 50%+ energy savings—far beyond conventional efficiency improvements. This requires comprehensive intervention:
Envelope Upgrades:
- Exterior insulation systems that add continuous insulation while preserving interior space
- Air sealing comprehensive enough to approach new construction airtightness
- Window replacement with high-performance glazing systems
- Roof and attic insulation to R-60+ levels
- Foundation insulation and moisture management
Mechanical System Conversion:
- Replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with electric heat pumps
- Heat pump water heaters replacing gas or electric resistance systems
- Ventilation system additions to ensure indoor air quality in tightened buildings
- Right-sizing equipment for dramatically reduced loads post-retrofit
Moisture & Durability:
- Comprehensive moisture assessment and mitigation
- Water-managed assemblies that allow drying
- Ventilation adequate to manage interior moisture
- Durability detailing that ensures assemblies perform for decades
[PROOF POINT: Deep retrofit projects completed; energy savings documented through utility bill analysis; payback periods; performance persistence over time]
Decarbonization Focus: Beyond energy savings, we prioritize decarbonization:
- Electrification of all end uses (heating, cooling, water heating, cooking)
- Renewable electricity procurement or generation
- Embodied carbon consideration in retrofit materials
- Refrigerant selection (low Global Warming Potential)
Our retrofit work serves existing industrial facilities seeking operational decarbonization, affordable housing preservation where energy cost reduction preserves affordability, and homeowners pursuing resilient, low-carbon homes.
Water Reuse Systems
Water scarcity affects growing regions while stormwater runoff degrades water quality and increases flood risk. High-performance building design addresses both through integrated water management.
Rainwater Harvesting: Collection and storage of roof runoff for non-potable or, with appropriate treatment, potable uses:
System Design:
- Roof area and rainfall data determine collection potential
- End-use requirements determine storage sizing
- Filtration, storage, and distribution systems tailored to use case
- Integration with municipal water as backup
Applications:
- Landscape irrigation (most common and cost-effective)
- Toilet flushing and clothes washing (with basic filtration)
- All indoor uses including potable (with comprehensive treatment)
Regulatory Navigation: Rainwater harvesting codes vary significantly by jurisdiction. We navigate permitting requirements and design to local standards while advocating for progressive code development.
[PROOF POINT: Rainwater systems designed/installed; gallons captured annually; water bill reductions; regulatory approvals achieved in various jurisdictions]
Greywater Reuse: Diversion of lightly used water from showers, bathroom sinks, and laundry to landscape irrigation:
Simple Systems: Direct discharge to mulch basins or subsurface irrigation—minimal treatment, low cost, significant water savings. These “laundry-to-landscape” systems can be installed for under $500 while saving thousands of gallons annually.
Constructed Systems: Filtration, storage, and pumped distribution allowing more flexible landscape watering. Higher cost but greater reliability and capacity.
Design Considerations:
- Soap and product selection (plant-compatible products)
- Soil infiltration capacity and landscape water needs
- Code compliance (varies significantly by jurisdiction)
- Homeowner maintenance requirements
Stormwater Management: Site design that infiltrates, slows, and cleans stormwater rather than rapidly conveying it to storm sewers:
Green Infrastructure:
- Rain gardens and bioswales that filter and infiltrate
- Permeable paving reducing runoff generation
- Retention and detention systems managing flow rates
- Native landscaping increasing infiltration capacity
Benefits:
- Reduced municipal infrastructure demands
- Improved water quality protection
- Groundwater recharge
- Habitat value and aesthetic enhancement
- Urban heat island mitigation
These water strategies integrate throughout our practice: industrial water conservation in manufacturing, agricultural water management in farming systems, and integrated site design in regenerative communities.
Resilient Housing Solutions
Climate change brings more frequent extreme weather, aging infrastructure creates reliability concerns, and energy system transitions introduce new vulnerabilities. Resilient housing maintains habitability during disruptions.
Passive Survivability: The ability to maintain safe conditions without mechanical systems or utility services:
Thermal Resilience: Super-insulated, airtight buildings maintain comfortable temperatures for days or weeks without heating/cooling. Passive House designs with thermal mass can survive extended power outages in extreme weather. We model thermal performance during grid-down scenarios to verify resilience.
Natural Ventilation: Operable windows sized and positioned for cross-ventilation and stack effect cooling. Even highly insulated buildings need natural ventilation strategies for moderate weather when mechanical systems are unavailable.
Daylighting: Abundant natural light reduces dependence on electric lighting and supports psychological wellbeing during emergencies.
Active Resilience: Systems that maintain function during disruptions:
Solar + Storage: Photovoltaic systems with battery storage provide backup power during outages. We size systems to support critical loads (refrigeration, medical equipment, communication, minimal lighting) for multi-day outages.
Water Independence: Rainwater harvesting or well systems with solar-powered pumps provide water security when municipal systems fail.
Backup Heat: In cold climates, we design backup heating strategies—whether sealed combustion wood stoves, passive solar gain, or battery-backed heat pumps—to prevent freeze damage and maintain habitability.
Community-Scale Resilience: Individual building resilience multiplies when coordinated:
Microgrids: Community-scale solar, storage, and distribution allowing islands of power during grid outages Shared Resources: Community buildings designed as resilience hubs with backup power, water, cooling/heating Social Networks: Design patterns encouraging neighbor connection and mutual support
[PROOF POINT: Resilience features designed into projects; performance during actual disruptions; thermal modeling showing passive survivability duration; backup power capacity]
Our resilience work serves vulnerable populations in affordable housing, rural and remote locations with unreliable infrastructure, and forward-thinking communities preparing for climate uncertainty.
Construction & Performance Verification
High-performance design means nothing without high-performance execution. Our Contractor + Advisor Advantage ensures design intent becomes as-built reality.
Quality Assurance Protocols:
- Pre-construction meetings establishing performance priorities and quality expectations
- Trade training on performance-critical details and sequences
- Staged inspections at critical phases (air barrier, insulation, mechanical rough-in)
- Photo documentation of all concealed work
- Punch lists focused on performance verification, not just aesthetics
Performance Testing:
Blower Door Testing: Measures building airtightness in air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). We test at rough-in when corrections are inexpensive and at completion to verify final performance. Passive House targets of 0.6 ACH50 require meticulous execution—our testing protocols ensure achievement.
Thermal Imaging: Infrared cameras reveal thermal anomalies indicating insulation gaps, thermal bridges, or air leakage. We conduct thermal imaging systematically during and after construction to identify and correct issues.
Ventilation Verification: We measure ventilation flow rates to ensure systems deliver design airflows. Inadequate ventilation compromises indoor air quality; excessive ventilation wastes energy.
Solar System Commissioning: PV systems are tested to verify output matches predictions and systems are properly configured for safety and performance.
Long-Term Monitoring: We recommend or install monitoring systems that track:
- Whole-building energy consumption
- Individual system-level consumption (heating, cooling, hot water, appliances)
- Indoor air quality parameters (CO2, humidity, VOCs)
- Solar generation
- Battery state of charge
This data validates design predictions, identifies operational issues early, and informs continuous improvement in future projects.
[PROOF POINT: Percentage of projects achieving design targets; gap between predicted and actual performance; issues identified through testing and corrected]
Compact, Affordable, High-Performance Housing
A core focus of our Regenerative Community Development work: proving that high-performance and affordability can coexist.
The Compact Advantage (1200-1800 sf homes):
First Cost: Smaller homes cost less to build—both in absolute terms and per-square-foot due to efficiency of compact forms. This makes high-performance construction accessible at lower total prices.
Operating Costs: Smaller homes require less energy, reducing utility bills 70-90% below conventional construction. This operational savings preserves long-term affordability.
Maintenance Costs: Less square footage means lower maintenance and replacement costs over building life.
Environmental Impact: Reduced material consumption, lower embodied carbon, and minimal operational emissions.
Livability: Thoughtful design makes compact homes highly livable:
- Open floor plans maximizing perceived space
- High ceilings and abundant natural light
- Efficient storage solutions
- Multi-functional spaces
- Quality over quantity—better finishes, systems, and details in smaller space
[PROOF POINT: Projects demonstrating construction cost per square foot; total home costs; utility bill comparisons showing operational savings; buyer satisfaction in compact homes]
Affordability Mechanisms:
- Production efficiency through repeated designs
- Material optimization reducing waste
- Simplified forms reducing construction complexity
- Local material and labor preference
- Value engineering preserving performance while controlling costs
- Utility incentive programs and tax credits reducing first costs
This approach demonstrates that energy efficiency, decarbonization, and housing affordability align rather than conflict—a critical demonstration as housing crises and climate crises both intensify.
Cross-Practice Integration
Manufacturing & Services Sectors: Industrial facilities benefit from building science expertise in envelope performance, energy optimization, and water management—the same principles applied in different contexts.
Food & Agriculture Value Chains: On-farm buildings from processing facilities to greenhouses to storage require high-performance design integrating energy efficiency, water systems, and agricultural operational needs.
Regenerative Community Development: Our primary application of high-performance building design, creating net-zero communities, Passive House neighborhoods, and resilient housing that proves sustainability is achievable at scale.
Partner for Building Excellence
If you’re committed to building performance that far exceeds conventional practice—if you need buildings that prove sustainability and economy can coexist—if you want partners who can design and deliver verified outcomes—KeenWorks’ high-performance building expertise is ready to serve your vision.
We work with those who understand that buildings profoundly shape environmental impact, human experience, and long-term value—and who are ready to build accordingly.