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!