Project highlight
Village Grove
Trumansburg, New York
Village Grove is Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services’ (INHS) mixed-use, mixed-income community designed to provide high-quality, energy-efficient housing. The projects consists of 17 market-rate lots, 10 affordable for-sale townhomes, and 40 affordable rental apartments in a two-story elevator building. The project includes a 3,000 SF community lounge with a kitchenette, laundry facilities, maintenance offices, and childcare facility. Village Grove provides space for an intergenerational, mixed-income community where seniors can age in place and young families can purchase affordable.
Village Grove is the first affordable housing development in the region to achieve Passive House certification — US (PHIUS)+ 2018 and use ground source heat pumps. The project participated in the the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) New Construction program and was awarded $932,280 as part of NYSERDA's Buildings of Excellence competition, reinforcing the projects role as a model for scalable, energy-efficient housing in New York State.
In 2019, the project was awarded a $300,000 grant from NYS to help cover pre-development costs. In addition, the project received a $6M award from NYS Homes and Community Renewal (NYDHCR) and funding from the NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance (NYHHA) programs.
Taitem Engineering collaborated closely with project partners to ensure the 46-unit project met rigorous Passive House standards. The development significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining exceptional thermal comfort and air quality for residents. The project includes both apartment-style multifamily housing and townhouse-style residences, integrating energy-efficient solutions throughout.
Key Design Features:
-
HVAC: ground source heat pump (GSHP), energy recovery ventilation (ERV)
-
Water Heating: Central water source heat pump (WSHP) (Daikin WHA060) from geothermal loop
-
Passive Design: PHIUS+2018 certification
-
Lighting Controls: Occupancy sensors
-
Appliances: ENERGY STAR
-
Renewables: Remote solar photovoltaic (PV) owned
Taitem is proud to have played a critical role in bringing high-performance building science to affordable housing in collaboration with INHS, Taitem Engineering, TG Miller, Fisher Associates, Sustainable Comfort, Purcell Construction, and key funding partners including New York State HCR.
NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence Case Study — Village Grove
NYSAFAH Upstate Project of the Year — 2025 Award for Excellence & Innovation in Affordable Housing
