ecological construction laboratory
www.e-colab.org
ecological construction laboratory (e-co lab), a
non-profit organization based in Urbana, Illinois, designs
attractive, affordable homes with low energy costs. e-co lab's
research focuses on the European concept of a "passive house," a
home that maintains a comfortable interior environment while
requiring very little energy for heating and cooling. The group's
research focuses on designing passive homes for low- and
middle-income families.
e-co lab's first project began in 2002, when its founder and
executive director, German-born Katrin Klingenberg, designed the
organization's first passive home. Her goal: to demonstrate that a
home can be designed and built to meet stringent passive-house
energy standards in the severe climate of Central Illinois. The
project's success inspired further research and design efforts.
e-co lab forged a partnership with the City of Urbana to design
passive homes for qualifying Urbana families.
"In building these homes, we've demonstrated that they can be
economically viable for low-income families," explains Katrin.
"They're the first passive homes with measured, published
statistics on financial energy performance."
Looking ahead, e-co lab plans to apply the passive house concept
in all climates for a wide range of homes.