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Ben,
 
I was using the standards from the website you linked to.
 

Performance Characteristics

 

  • Airtight building shell ¡Â 0.6 ACH @ 50 pascal pressure, measured by blower-door test.
  • Annual heat requirement ¡Â 15 kWh/m©÷/year (0.048 therms/sf)
  • Primary Energy ¡Â 120 kWh/m©÷/year (0.38 therms/sf)

 

In addition, the following are recommendations, varying with climate:

  • Window u-value ¡Â 0.8 Watt/m©÷/K  (U-0.14)
  • Ventilation system with heat recovery with ¡Ã 75% efficiency with low electric consumption @  0.45 Wh/m3
  • Thermal Bridge Free Construction ¡Â 0.01 W/mK (¡Â 0.006 BTU-ft/hr-sf-¡ÆF)
 
And I was comparing them with both the Energy Star projected energy use numbers and my own spreadsheet, which has always closely matched actual consumption.
 
- Robert

--- On Sun, 12/28/08, Ben Graham <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Ben Graham <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Passive Houses
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 11:25 PM

That¡¯s good to know Robert.

There¡¯s another rub that make¡¯s the Passive House concept different than LEED and much better for it.  It uses actual energy usage and blower door results.  Not just designs.
Which energy use standards were you using?  They haven¡¯t published standards for our climate yet.  Probably the closest ones are the ones being developed for lapland and sweden.

Ben


On 12/28/08 10:17 PM, "Robert Riversong" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Ben, et al:
 
I just crunched some numbers and discovered that if I modified the superinsulated house I built last year by increasing the south glazing by 60sf (from 138sf to 198sf), using moderate solar heat gain triple glazed instead of double lowE¡±, and replaced the exhaust only, passive inlet ventilation system with a 75% efficient HRV, then it would have met all the PassivHaus standards.
 
Maybe next time.
 
- Robert
 


--- On Sun, 12/28/08, Ben Graham <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Ben Graham <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Passive Houses
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 4:39 PM

  I wanted to let people know about one of the most far reaching and
innovative energy efficiency movements in construction called the Passive
House Movement.  It started in Germany perhaps 12-15 years ago spurred on by
the Kyoto Protocol and the German Government.  Over 15,000 of these houses
have been built in Central Europe and the concept is spreading fast.  There
have been few cold climate models but there are many experiments underway.
The idea is similar to net zero but more innovative. You can find out more
details in the links below.

    You can read a report of the 3rd annual Passive House Conference in the
US just held in Duluth, MN here:
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47457

    And you can visit the US passive house center here:
http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PHIUSHome.html

There is even a smaller movement of building designers working on combining
the Passive House concept with Natural Building.

    The passive house model is based on real use rather than designs and is
backed up with fuel use receipts.
    If anyone knows of anyone trying a Passive House in VT, please let me
know.

Cheers,
Ben

Those who give up freedom for safety, deserve neither.
Benjamin Franklin
__________________________________________________________

Ben Graham
www.naturaldesignbuild.us
Natural building/design services/workshops/consulting

Integrating Culture and Nature
802.454.1167



Those who give up freedom for safety, deserve neither.
Benjamin Franklin
__________________________________________________________

Ben Graham
www.naturaldesignbuild.us
Natural building/design services/workshops/consulting

Integrating Culture and Nature
802.454.1167