SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
Passive House Design
2 Goals:1. Minimize Energy Losses
2. Maximize Passive Energy Gains
Results =90% Energy Savings compared
to a conventional home.
-90%
!
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
Passive House Design:The Seven Basic Principles
1. Super Insulate2. Eliminate Thermal Bridges
3. Make It Airtight4. Heat Recovery Ventilation
5. High Performance Windows & Doors
6. Optimize Passive Solar & Internal Heat Gains
7. Model Energy Gains & Losses With the PHPP*
*Passive House Planning Package is the modeling software used to plan Passive Houses
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
1. Super InsulateR values of double to triple what is current code in the US are specified in order to
meet the Passive House standard.
Under floor & slab is essential.
Amounts are climate and site specific and
Quality Install is absolutely essential to get the value and meet the standard
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
2. Eliminate Thermal BridgesThings that are not as
important in poorly performing buildings (like the US housing
stock) (like nails and fasteners penetrating thru insulation) ... Become very important after
the more blatant Home Performance errors have been
corrected. Here thermal bridging is eliminated with
blocks of exterior insulation sealed and adhered to the wall.
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
3. Make It AirtightAlthough this CFM50 leakage
number is tight enough to brag about in a California
renovation project and requires the home to be
ventilated “on purpose” ... It is still 7 times too leaky to meet the Passive House standard. This shows how much room there is for improvement in
American Homes.
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
4. Heat Recovery VentilationPassive Houses have greatly
improved indoor air quality with their HRV or ERV systems. Heat
is also recovered from water. Heat losses have been reduced so much that conventional heating
systems are not usually specified. (Since mini split heat pumps
provide cooling in Central CA, they will also provide heat more
efficiently than the simpler resistance electric solutions used
without heat pumps.)
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
5. High Performance Windows & Doors
Triple Pane with Argon fill is the lowest performance that is
even considered. Windows and Doors of this
quality are just beginning to be available in the US.
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
6. Optimize Passive Solar & Internal Heat Gains
More glass to the south. Less to the other
directions. Openable windows
This home was just being completed. The
owner and his family had just moved in and loved the comfort of their new home. (details to follow)
Notable feature at my visit was total lack of stratification of temperature downstairs to upstairs
Same design but owners declined vent system & are uncomfortable
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
7. Model Energy Gains & Losses With the PHPP
PHPP is the Passive House Excel Spreadsheet that is used to model each change as a PH
designer adds and changes components of a project.
We will explore this tool and the approach that it requires
in future presentations.
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
Applications?Many have thought
(including myself) that Passive House was too stringent a standard to
be practical for widespread acceptance
in the US. But, visiting the
conference and the example house, has
caused me to be taking another look. Roof Turf & Garden with
Solar on an office building
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
Spreading PH Thinking(After 15 years of diligent
work, most Germans are still unaware of the PassivHaus
standard and it’s benefits and need to be “Sold” on the idea)That awareness and thinging
barrier is even higher in the US. What are the thinking barriers
and what is the solution to changing the paradigm to where Passive House seems to be the
most logical thing to do? Two Passive House Thinkers At Dresden, Germany
SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010
Short Term Thinking vs Hundred Year Planning
Perhaps the biggest paradigm shift that
makes Passive House Design make
sense is to start planning and
building everything to last 100 years.
This is now part of the Green Earth
Equities master plan!