Habit Studio

Can you have a wood stove in a Passive House?

Generally, in the Passive House world, the answer is no, and the reasons are valid. The low heating loads in a super-insulated building paired with high output wood appliances can easily lead to overheating. And combustion needs oxygen, which means that unless you design for it, wacky things can happen with air being pulled through a tight envelope. Not to mention that when the goal is excellent air quality, wood smoke is working against you.

Despite these very good reasons not to install wood heating in Passive Houses, we've designed many homes with either a wood stove or fireplace. We recently reached out to clients who've been living with wood heat to find out how it is going, what works, and what we can do better.

One client, after a full winter with it:

"It feels right-sized — we don't feel like the house overheats when we use the woodstove. It nicely heats the home, though the mudroom and downstairs bathroom don't quite get the heat the rest of the house does.

We did have issues with smoke and backdrafting at first. We quickly realized the issue was the airtightness, and now we simply crack one of the patio doors when lighting the fire and close it once it gets going — after a few minutes. It only needs to be a crack. You don't notice any cold air getting in.

We still get some smoke when we stoke the fire, but a chimney cleaner told us a softer angle on the pipe might help. We haven't bothered to change it yet.

I don't think there have been any surprises — I grew up with woodstoves, so I'm used to the process and troubleshooting. We definitely would rather have it than not. We use it a lot on weekends and love it for the heat, the smell, the ambiance. All the good stuff."

— Sambro Creek

Stove: Supreme Novo 24

First in a series — follow along to hear more from homeowners with wood heat in their Passive Houses.

The Point. Through spring and into summer, a lakefront Passive House has been taking shape.

Our clients wanted somewhere to slow down. So we let the land lead. The home settles into a quiet, forested lot and opens toward the lake, and the view keeps widening the further in you go.

They aren't the only ones who live here. Small creatures have made themselves at home, and native plantings are taking root. New trees are growing in too. They'll shade the house in summer, and in winter they'll let the low sun through to warm it.

It's a place that holds life gently, and asks very little of the land to do it.

Nearly there. Swipe to see the finished home as we've imagined it.

Introducing Aperture.

A forested site, all granite and steep drops, with the water just beyond the trees.

Rather than fight the terrain, we lifted the house onto steel posts anchored to bedrock. Now it hovers among the trees, just as we imagined on our first visit.

A gap between the garage and the house frames your first glimpse of the water as you arrive. Step inside, and the whole view opens up.

See the full project on our website.

Built by .built
Photography by .mesheau

Renovating an existing home can come with a lot of questions: what needs attention now, what can wait, and how one decision might affect another.

Our Whole Home Renovation Strategy looks at your home as a whole, bringing together design, existing conditions and energy analysis to help you understand your options and make informed decisions about what to improve and when.

Curious where to start with your home? Visit our website to learn more about our tiered renovation strategy.

Testing, tweaking, refining.

Our team is putting the PHPP integration through its paces within our BIM software. Exploring workflows, catching the details, and making sure the tools work seamlessly.

A little behind-the-scenes look at the process of making better building performance part of the design workflow.

Great design isn't about following trends. It's about creating a home that works beautifully for the people who live there.

Our goal wasn't just to renovate. It was to give this beloved home a second act. One filled with a seamless connection to the outdoors.

This essay is a gentle invitation to slow down and rediscover the wisdom that surrounds us every day. It reminds us that caring for the places we call home can also deepen our connection with ourselves and one another.

Check out the link to read the article and subscribe for more thoughtful pieces.

A Pilgrim in my Garden and a Playlist for Garden Pilgrims

When a home's flow isn't working, sometimes the answer is to rethink everything. The redesign for the 1880 Halifax heritage home meant relocating the kitchen. Unlocking natural light, improving circulation and creating a true heart of the home.

Visit the link below to read the full article and see the beautiful photos.

This Designer Moved Her Kitchen Across Her Halifax Home—And It Completely Transformed Its Function | Style at Home Soft colours, vibrant wallpaper, and a clever kitchen decision transformed the main floor of this heritage house.

Chester Cottage, inside and out. Where light, materials, and shoreline views shape every space.

A look inside Chester Cottage.
The plan reveals how each space is oriented toward light, views, and daily rhythm. Where living, resting, and gathering unfold naturally within the landscape.