Project Overview

Bishop Passive House is a single-family home in San Luis Obispo, California. This certified Passive House Institute home designed by Cairn Collaborative uses approximately 85% less energy than the average newly constructed home in California.

Design Challenges

Achieving both environmental and interior comfort goals required continuous insulation and high R-values to eliminate thermal bridging. The design team’s challenge was to build a home that performs in all weather conditions while using materials that align with sustainability goals.

Glavel as a Solution

Glavel played a crucial role in addressing the design challenges of the Bishop Passive House. Foam glass gravel provided continuous insulation beneath the slab, eliminating thermal bridging and contributing to the home’s airtight construction. Glavel met the project’s sustainability goals  and helped achieve energy efficiency goals as well. By building with Glavel, the Bishop Passive House was able to maintain consistent interior temperatures with minimal space conditioning, contributing to its 85% reduction in energy usage compared to standard homes.