Wholehouse

Wholehouse is a term used in architecture, construction, and home improvement to describe an approach that treats a residence as a single, interconnected system rather than a collection of isolated parts. The term is often written as "whole-house" or "whole house," and in some informal or branding contexts may appear as the single word "wholehouse." In practice, it denotes a holistic, building-science–driven method aimed at improving overall performance, comfort, durability, and energy efficiency.

Applications and scope include the building envelope (insulation, air sealing, windows), mechanical systems (HVAC, ventilation, water heating), electrical and lighting, and indoor environmental quality. A wholehouse strategy typically begins with an assessment such as a home energy audit and may involve envelope leakage tests or modeling. Interventions are chosen to work together, emphasizing system interactions rather than optimizing a single component.

Standards and related concepts: The whole-building perspective underpins many energy and green-building programs, including Passive House, Energy Star for Homes, and other guidelines that promote integrated design, continuous insulation, controlled ventilation, and efficient equipment. These frameworks advocate treating the house as a system to achieve consistent performance across climate, occupancy, and use.

Impact and usage: Advocates contend that wholehouse upgrades deliver greater energy savings, enhanced comfort, and increased property value, especially when implemented as a coordinated retrofit or new-construction strategy. Practitioners often use a house-as-a-system framework to plan and prioritize work.

See also: Whole-building approach, Building science, Home performance, Energy efficiency.