PassivHaus - anyone got one?
Discussion
I'm fairly au-fait with a few issues. For instance, on the ventilation front, I know that British installers seem unable to follow the most basic guidance from European MVHR manufacturers (Drexel & Weiss). But it's mostly post-construction snagging, and the practicalities of living in one that I'd most like to wise up on.
While not directly PassivHaus related, I remember this story about how a flagship energy-efficient housing project didn't go to plan: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/375627/Eco-homes-...
(FWIW, I'm involved in a project of 46 houses, where PassivHaus is part of the draft of the client brief.)
While not directly PassivHaus related, I remember this story about how a flagship energy-efficient housing project didn't go to plan: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/375627/Eco-homes-...
(FWIW, I'm involved in a project of 46 houses, where PassivHaus is part of the draft of the client brief.)
Even a Passivhaus needs some energy input, I have a slightly different approach to the problem.
Trying to minimize energy usage comes at a capital cost, where diminishing returns come in. Using heat pumps can save as much energy at much lower capital cost.
For example I did the underfloor heating (with a heat pump) for a local build. The floor slab is better than normal with edge insulation, but everything else is standard NZ stuff (ie not that good, with aluminium window frames and the usual huge windows). About 200sqm of living area (single storey), total energy bill for two people was 100 pounds for a month in the middle of winter.
Is there much point in low e glass, argon fill, triple glazing, thermal breaks, six inch walls etc etc to save relatively small amounts of money?
Trying to put in a ground source heat pump (as opposed to air source) is simply not worth it. Our units are designed to operate down to -25c - and cost about 3,000 pounds. Ground source can be an additional 10,000.
Trying to minimize energy usage comes at a capital cost, where diminishing returns come in. Using heat pumps can save as much energy at much lower capital cost.
For example I did the underfloor heating (with a heat pump) for a local build. The floor slab is better than normal with edge insulation, but everything else is standard NZ stuff (ie not that good, with aluminium window frames and the usual huge windows). About 200sqm of living area (single storey), total energy bill for two people was 100 pounds for a month in the middle of winter.
Is there much point in low e glass, argon fill, triple glazing, thermal breaks, six inch walls etc etc to save relatively small amounts of money?
Trying to put in a ground source heat pump (as opposed to air source) is simply not worth it. Our units are designed to operate down to -25c - and cost about 3,000 pounds. Ground source can be an additional 10,000.
One of the biggest issues to deal with - if your trying to sell a development to the public - is getting the end users to understand how they need to interact with the building. For example, not blocking vents up.
You may want to check out BedZed in Wallington as a model for 'selling' eco living development.
I know what you say about workmanship. I remember having real difficulties getting plumbers to use plastic pipes.
You may want to check out BedZed in Wallington as a model for 'selling' eco living development.
I know what you say about workmanship. I remember having real difficulties getting plumbers to use plastic pipes.
:wave:
I'm not in the UK, but am very close to having a passivhaus finished here in Luxembourg.
The main contractor/promoter is Felix Giorgetti www.gio.lu and they're building a development of ~60 A rated houses and 2 A rated apartment blocks.
My build was pre-certified as A rated with my notary contract, but has to prove it through a blower test in the next few weeks that it really does meet requirements. Expected energy costs are ~€2/m2 p.a.
I didn't buy it because it was a passivhaus, but because it gave us the useable living space we needed with 2 almost teen daughters, and in an area we like.
I'm not in the UK, but am very close to having a passivhaus finished here in Luxembourg.
The main contractor/promoter is Felix Giorgetti www.gio.lu and they're building a development of ~60 A rated houses and 2 A rated apartment blocks.
My build was pre-certified as A rated with my notary contract, but has to prove it through a blower test in the next few weeks that it really does meet requirements. Expected energy costs are ~€2/m2 p.a.
I didn't buy it because it was a passivhaus, but because it gave us the useable living space we needed with 2 almost teen daughters, and in an area we like.
I went along to a fully certified Passivhaus last year with my showroom partner who has a building company. It was a firm that do consultancy to tell the builder how to get a house up to the standard and tehniques etc.
I was pretty sceptical thinking it would not be all that but was mega impressed. It was a 4 level west London terraced house and it was silent inside. Not quiet, silent. The atmosphere in the house was spot on (feeling of temperature / drafts (or lack of) etc. It was really impressive.
If I was doing my own build i would definitely look at the various ways and techniques they use, even implementing some of the things would make a huge difference. Its definitely expensive but for me it was more attractive in how it made the house feel in terms of outside noise / traffic noise - the energy saving is a bonus. She did say they had bills of something like £7 a month total for the entire house for utilities but of course spent an extra £30k in the fitout to achieve these savings
I was pretty sceptical thinking it would not be all that but was mega impressed. It was a 4 level west London terraced house and it was silent inside. Not quiet, silent. The atmosphere in the house was spot on (feeling of temperature / drafts (or lack of) etc. It was really impressive.
If I was doing my own build i would definitely look at the various ways and techniques they use, even implementing some of the things would make a huge difference. Its definitely expensive but for me it was more attractive in how it made the house feel in terms of outside noise / traffic noise - the energy saving is a bonus. She did say they had bills of something like £7 a month total for the entire house for utilities but of course spent an extra £30k in the fitout to achieve these savings
Edited by jke11y on Saturday 5th October 16:04
For anyone in the UK this might be of interest...
http://www.southwestenergycentre.co.uk/
They are just up the road from me and have a PassivHaus used for training purposes. Last time I spoke with them you could also rent the Haus and stay in for weekends etc. Not sure if they advertise it as such anymore but my daughter used it a lot for a project and they are more than happy to help with lots of things.
http://www.southwestenergycentre.co.uk/
They are just up the road from me and have a PassivHaus used for training purposes. Last time I spoke with them you could also rent the Haus and stay in for weekends etc. Not sure if they advertise it as such anymore but my daughter used it a lot for a project and they are more than happy to help with lots of things.
RC1807 said:
I posted above, used to be 5potTurbo.
Me, too (coincidentally I used to be 12v3pot, but ought now be called 32v8pot).Will follow up these blogs - thanks. The project I was involved in still hasn't broken ground and I left it (co-housing involving far too many external agencies). Still think about doing a proper Passivhaus, but land prices around here have gone crazy and developers always get the best plots.
For those folks who have done it, did you get your MVHR noise under control?
If you want to get up to speed, go here, http://forum.buildhub.org.uk/ipb/
My take is, use some of the principles but dont waste your cash getting it "certificated".
My take is, use some of the principles but dont waste your cash getting it "certificated".
See if you can stay in one for a short break - you will probably change your mind. Horrible and suffocating environments have been reported and have been identified as having contributed to depression for some people!
As has been mentioned above - I have heard the biggest issue is poor knowledge of uk installers.
As has been mentioned above - I have heard the biggest issue is poor knowledge of uk installers.
Absolute must, proper heat recovery ventilation system.
Ability to put some energy into the floor if required. Hard surfaces can feel cold even when the air temperature is fine.
We are now heating a hot water cylinder with a heat pump, then using a small amount of energy when required for the floor.
Hot water all year for around the price of gas - small amount of heating for equivalent gas cost (or lower).
No gas required, but space required outside for a small air to water heat pump (3.5kW output, 900 watt input).
Ability to put some energy into the floor if required. Hard surfaces can feel cold even when the air temperature is fine.
We are now heating a hot water cylinder with a heat pump, then using a small amount of energy when required for the floor.
Hot water all year for around the price of gas - small amount of heating for equivalent gas cost (or lower).
No gas required, but space required outside for a small air to water heat pump (3.5kW output, 900 watt input).
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