passive house and advanced energy efficient homes · passive house and advanced energy efficient...

Passive House Construction: CERTS Conference—February 2013 1

Passive House and Advanced Energy Efficient Homes

Passive House at UMORE: Final Report Nov 9, 2011 2

What is Passive House?

A type of certification that recognizes energy performance. It is based on the premise that if envelope performance is

high enough, all heat can be distributed through the ventilation system.

Passive House at UMORE: Final Report Nov 9, 2011

Multi-Unit PassivHaus Darmstadt Kranichstein, Germany


Energy Usage

Energy Figures of Housing Buildings: Average American House 91 kBtu/ft2/a Minnesota Energy Code ~ 50 kBtu/ft2/a Germany Past 95-63 kBtu/ft2/a Germany Today (1995) 34-25 kBtu/ft2/a Passivhaus (total) ~ 12-20 kBtu/ft2/a Passivhaus (heating only) under 5 kBtu/ft2/a The BioHaus in the German Language Village in Minnesota (which we’ll see

later) uses 85% less energy than a normal house of its size.


PH Certification Criteria

To be Passive House certified, the following must be met: • No more than 4.746 kBtu/sf per year heating energy as modeled by PH software. • No more than 4.746 kBtu/sf per year cooling energy as modeled by PH software. • No more than 38.1 kBtu/sf per year primary (source) energy as modeled by PH software. • 0.6 Air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure (actual test on building).


How are performance criteria met?

1. Lots of insulation.

MN Code:

R-20

MN high performance:

R-27

Passive House:

R-50+

Wall insulation example:


How are performance criteria met?


How are performance criteria met? 2. High-performance windows and doors.

Typical window: U-.49 to U-.33

PH window: U-.19 to U-.16


How are performance criteria met? 3. Heat recovery ventilators.


How are performance criteria met? 4. Very high-quality construction.


Passive Houses in Minnesota

There are currently 3 certified Passive House buildings in MN:

Isabella Lake Home Waldsee BioHaus Passive House in the Woods


Passive Houses in Minnesota Isabella Lake Home


Passive Houses in Minnesota Waldsee BioHaus


Passive Houses in Minnesota Passive House in the Woods


Other Minnesota PH projects

Skyline house (missed airtightness target) Bagley Classroom (pending certification)



Skyline house



Bagley Classroom (UMD)


Case Study Comparison - annual energy load

Annual Energy Load

0.0000

0.0050

0.0100

0.0150

0.0200

0.0250

Skyline P.H. DarmstadtP.H.

Hockerton BedZED KingspanLighthouse

VancouverSEFC

MNreference

house

kWh/

m2/

HD

D

normalized energy load (kWh/m2 per HDD)

Annual Energy Load

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Skyline P.H. DarmstadtP.H.

Hockerton BedZED KingspanLighthouse

VancouverSEFC

MNreference

house

kWh/

m2 annual energy load (kWh/m2)

Total energy consumption

Energy consumption normalized for climate


Passive Houses in MN/WI

There are currently 4 projects under construction or in design that will seek PH certification:

Newenhouse Prototype (Viroqua, WI) Synergy Home (Minneapolis, MN) Holm Retreat (Biwabik, MN) image unavailable

Erickson Home (Ely, MN) image unavailable


Passive Houses in MN/WI: Newenhouse Prototype (Viroqua, WI)


Passive Houses in MN/WI: Synergy Home


High-performance but not PH-certified

Echo Lake House (Echo Lake, MN) Amaris Builders, LEED Home (Northfield, MN) Christian Bros. Home (Elk River, MN) Movil Lake Home (Movil Lake, MN) Esko Farmhouse (Esko, MN)


Passive House Developments

Jackson Meadow (Marine on St. Croix, MN)


Passive House Developments: Jackson Meadow (Marine on St. Croix, MN)



Third Residential EcoVillage Experience (Ithaca, NY)


Advantages of Passive House

• Decreased energy costs • Energy security • Passive survivability • Occupant health • Simplicity of installing HVAC system • Durability and high quality construction • Brand recognition • Accountability and ease of use


Challenges of Passive House

• Higher initial construction costs • Availability of components • Finely-tuned design • Lack of experienced engineers and contractors • Architectural differences • Design conflicts • Moisture and durability • Public perceptions • Integration with other building programs and

regulations


Other concerns over Passive House application in Minnesota

• The Passive House standard is based on Central European cost effectiveness studies, not Minnesotan.

• Certification can be difficult. • May not adequately address cooling needs in

Minnesota’s hot, humid summer. • May not adequately address potential moisture

problems within the wall cavity. • Does not address other aspects of sustainability.


Results and Conclusions

• Passive House costs range widely, from a custom home around $342 per sf to a simple single-family home at $100 per sf.



• Designers estimate between 3% to 20% increase in cost due to Passive House construction in Minnesota.



• Passive House energy use is very low—less than 20 kBtu/sf/year.


Results and Conclusions Case study house energy use.



• Analysis shows simple paybacks in the 19-25 year range for Passive House construction (no energy cost inflation).

• Reduced energy and maintenance costs are included.


Multi-family Buildings

• Because of common walls and lower surface-to-volume ratio, it is easier to meet Passive House standards with townhouses and multi-family buildings.


Market Acceptance

• There is not enough information at this point on Passive House market acceptance.

• Jackson Meadows Phase 2 will be a test of concept in Minnesota.

• EcoVillage Phase 3 in Ithaca, New York will be another test of the concept in the US.

• The GEOS development in Arvada, Colorado with 300 housing units will be a third test.


Impact on Layout

• Neighborhoods must be designed to provide solar access for each home. This is unlikely to affect density but may produce some unconventional layouts.


Impact on Layout

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