
Hankin Group, based in Exton, Pennsylvania, has opened the state’s first Phius ZERO apartment community.
Hamilton Passive House, a 32-unit building that is the final phase of a 156-unit eco-friendly apartment community in the company’s Eagleview master plan in Chester County, pushes the envelope on the future of sustainable living.
Phius ZERO is an industry-setting standard for net-zero energy design and the highest certification from Phius, the leading passive house building standard in North America. Hamilton Passive House was designed to meet the rigorous third-party standards for quality, durability, health, safety, and cost-optimized conservation, which includes the elimination of on-site fossil-fueled combustion and the offsetting of annual operational energy with renewable energy.
Hankin Group, a vertically integrated real estate company has been focused on sustainability, building to LEED standards for two decades. President and CEO Bob Hankin, who is a civil engineer, says the company’s philosophy is driven by technology, engineering, and architecture, and it continues to raise the bar.
“For more than 20 years, Hankin Group has been committed to environmentally conscious development, and we’re proud to represent the future of sustainable living with Hamilton Passive House,” says Hankin. “Phius has been an incredible partner throughout this process, and we hope today’s milestone inspires a continued investment in our environment from developers across the country.”

Sustainable features comprise:
- R40 insulated walls, which results in an estimated 40% reduction in heat flow compared with lower-performance insulation;
- A rooftop solar photovoltaic array, which is expected to generate 217,825 kilowatt-hours and eliminate electricity bills for residents;
- Hybrid heat pump water heaters, which deliver near instant hot water to residents; and
- PVC and sustainable rice hull siding, which is made from 100% recycled and tree-free materials.
“If you did any of these strategies individually, such as passive house but not solar, you might not see noticeable financial advantages,” he says. “But by taking a comprehensive approach, like net zero, you’re capturing a financial benefit as well.”
Hankin says LEED, which is its base building standard, adds about 2% to construction costs. Including solar adds an additional 6% and passive house improvements another 5% to the total.
“To achieve the Phius ZERO rating, we had to spend about 11% more on construction,” he says. “Luckily, we have a good technical team that enabled us to build the passive house at only a modest premium. And being a luxury apartment complex, cost premiums are easier to absorb through rent. We believe there’s tremendous value in living in a building that’s net zero that can also produce energy for your electric vehicle.”
Comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, the four-story building will feature water-conserving bathroom fixtures; induction cooking, which reduces indoor pollution; triple-pane windows; Energy Star appliances; and high-efficiency HVAC and energy recovery ventilator systems. Units also will include washers and dryers; smart locks and thermostats; wood-inspired flooring; and expansive closets.
Residents also will have access to a resort-style pool with an outdoor TV; a golf and multisport simulator; a fitness center; a pet spa and bark park; a coffee bar; a business center with private workspaces; a spacious clubhouse; valet trash and recycling services; and electric vehicle charging stations.
“What I find interesting about passive house is that, for developers, it’s a relatively modest effort to help solve climate change,” adds Hankin. “It’s a model that can be replicated fairly easily, without a huge amount of effort—but can still have significant environmental impacts. I think that makes it special.”