Bensonwood, a design-build firm based in Walpole, N.H., has developed a new series of wall, roof, and floor panels designed to meet or exceed Passive House standards. The PHlex panels are based on the firm’s existing panelization systems, with framing depths, open-built layers, and continuous insulation fine-tuned to achieve ultra energy-efficiency and an ultra-low carbon footprint in any project or environment.
"Our PHlex system adapts to each building's parameters to achieve Passive House performance, including the local climate, the orientation of the home, occupancy, square footage and budget," says Hans Porschitz, COO of Bensonwood and Certified Passive House Builder. "Passive House design is not one-size-fits-all. Cooling and heating requirements for a particular building depend on where you live, microclimates, floorplans, and many other factors."
Each panel set is custom-built in Bensonwood’s offsite Keene, N.H. factory, then bundled and shipped in assembly order. According to Porschitz, a team of skilled builders, with the assistance of a crane or forklift, can construct the PHlex building shell in a “matter of days.” This reduces onsite waste and construction time, saving resources and money alike.
"A general contractor can complete the project with the confidence that the many building envelope details required by Passive House standards have already been addressed," Porschitz says. "PHlex helps make building to Passive House specifications more realistic, achievable and affordable."