Hausworks founder touts award-winning green home designs as worth the money

ROCHESTER — A local builder said he believes if people put in the effort to ensure their house is built using true "green" techniques, it will be an investment they'll never regret.

And it is better for the environment.

"The building industry in general impacts our carbon footprint," said Hausworks founder/owner Michael Ianello. "Houses are built to a minimum standard that hasn't changed in 60-plus years. A home is one of our largest investments. We want to build you a better, more healthy home."

Hausworks of Rochester was recently named as winner of the 2024 Green Design: Energy Efficient Home award from New Hampshire Home Magazine for a home built in Meredith, New Hampshire.

Ianello said he founded Hausworks with the intent of building high-quality, energy-efficient and environmentally conscious homes by implementing Passive House (Passivhaus) standards into each project.

“If you look back to homes built 50 years ago, there hasn't been a dramatic change in the way they are constructed when it comes to energy efficiency and performance," said Ianello. "Building science has come a long way since then. We have the knowledge, technology, and products to build better, but we are still seeing homes in the U.S. being built to codes that are the bare minimum. By incorporating building sciences, Hausworks can construct homes that will last longer, have lower energy costs, and be far healthier and more comfortable than a traditionally built home.”

Ianello started his company four years ago in Dover. He has since moved his operations base to Rochester. He is a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and a graduate of the University of Maine's construction management program.

"I started the business during COVID, arguably a tough time to begin any business," he said. "But I and my team really believe in what we are doing."

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Ianello said he wants to change the way houses are built.

"Traditionally, houses are built based on building codes," he said. "Our homes are built based on a concept that came out of Germany and is widely used throughout Europe.

"There are five basic tenets to our homes that make them a quality home you will be proud to own," he said. "They are an airtight building envelope, the ventilation is of higher efficiency, which is better for heating and energy reduction, we use an exceptional level of insulation, windows are well insulated frames with triple panes glass, and we use a thermal bridge design that reduces the chance of condensation, which can lead to mold. Our homes are healthier and more comfortable no matter what the weather is outside. Heating bills will be lower and if we use certain materials, like solar panels, your bills can be almost nothing."

Ianello said this type of construction is a more costly than "cookie cutter" construction, but he said the long-term savings make it worthwhile. He said he does business in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

The Hausworks homes, sold in the range of $800,000 to $1.2 million are all electric, but Ianello said they are so efficient, homeowners will not feel the pinch.

'My parents have a net zero home in South Berwick," said Ianello. "They do not pay utility costs."

For Ianello and his team, it goes beyond just providing a better-built home.

"Buildings currently contribute to 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions: 28% from energy needed to heat,cool and power them, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction," he said. "As builders we have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce our impact. Incorporating Passive House standards into an all-electric house, coupled with a renewable energy source, such as solar panels, which can leave the occupants with a net zero energy bill and carbon-free home."

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Hausworks founder touts award-winning green home designs