Haven Studio is a compact, solar-powered, net-zero energy demonstration home that showcases how thoughtful design, student innovation, and sustainable materials can come together to address climate-conscious living. With its simple, iconic gabled form and bio-based construction, the home serves as both a model of accessible high-performance housing and a hands-on educational tool for the local community.

Designed and built by students, Haven Studio was conceived to demystify net-zero design and make sustainable building practices tangible and replicable. The home is wrapped in a highly insulated and meticulously air-sealed envelope, utilizing continuous timber board insulation—a renewable, bio-based alternative to foam—and cutting-edge quad-pane windows. These passive strategies drastically reduce heating and cooling demands while enhancing indoor comfort and durability.

Mechanical systems are equally efficient. A mini-split heat pump and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) manage heating, cooling, and ventilation with minimal energy input. Because of its extremely low operational energy demand, a modest 12-panel solar array not only meets the home's annual energy needs but also generates surplus electricity. This excess power supports an adjacent building and charges electric vehicles, further amplifying the home’s environmental impact.

The home’s narrow, daylight-optimized footprint minimizes both material use and reliance on artificial lighting. Its south-facing façade is generously glazed for passive solar gain and protected by a carefully sized overhang that blocks high-angle summer sun while allowing low-angle winter light to warm the interior. In contrast, the super-insulated north façade is solid to reduce thermal bridging and energy loss.

To reduce construction waste and ensure precision, Haven Studio’s floor and wall assemblies were prefabricated. Material choices throughout prioritize bio-based, low-embodied-carbon, and/or reclaimed materials—including wood cladding, recycled cellulose insulation, and solid maple wood flooring—all selected for durability, low maintenance, and ecological responsibility.

Haven Studio is more than a structure—it is a pedagogical platform and a community resource. It demonstrates that sustainable, net-positive design is not only achievable but can also be beautiful, efficient, and rooted in local values.