Community: PassivHaus

Much of the value of this site is the pooled experience of members and their willingness to share it. This page offers a Community area formatted for Questions & Answers dedicated to PassivHaus. Other topics appear to the right.

Anyone may ask a question and anyone may answer. Sometimes one of our 15 Advisors may chime in; in other cases, you'll get the wisdom of some of our members who have some experience in this area. We encourage everyone to give us the benefit of both their questions and answers. The usual rules of courtesy apply.

PassivHaus is a standard of construction that yields extremely tight envelopes and low energy use.

The PassivHaus Institute is in Germany, but we have a branch here in North America as well, Passive House Institute US

Sign In to Ask a Question >
6 Answers
Perlite as insulation

I am wondering about whether it may be okay to use perlite as insulation under a basement slab. I am planning a Passive House and under the current plan, I would use 4 inches EPS. According to passive house, the EPS would also be under the footings. I am a little concerned about the structural stability of EPS under the concrete footings. I am considering using perlite granules (R-2.7/in), maybe about 6 inches of it underneath the entire foundation. Are there structural issues to be concerned with?

Asked By Roger Lin | Aug 26 10
0 Answers
Dr Feist Videos

I think Mark Siddall first posted this link a while back.
http://www.aecb.net/feist_videos.php

Asked By John Brooks | Jul 28 10
0 Answers
Sentivity Analysis

I haven't yet seen a sensitivity analysis performed for passive solar heating in the north American designs. Mark Siddall wrote in response to article by Martin Holladay, on the subject of Passivhaus Windows:

NOTE: Value engineering may suggest in some climates / economic conditions (such as those in the UK) that it is more cost effective to specify a better glazing U-value. The result being that the requirements for the opaque building fabric becomes less onerous.

Asked By Brian O' Hanlon | Jul 23 10
7 Answers
I'm thinking of building attached townhouses in NYC (3 or 4 floors).

My foundation will probably be a matt foundation. I am trying to meet passive house standards. What is the best way to create a thermal break between the ground and the matt. I'm concerned. I would love to see some form of database of components, assemblies and appropriate products for Passivhaus construction.

Asked By Marshall | Nov 11 09
6 Answers
"Murky" Passivhaus Discussion Continues

One of the better GBA discussions is continuing ...
interesting insights have recently been added.
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/can-foam-insulati...

The reason that I bring this up in the Question section is because there is no easy way to notice when new comments have been added to a Not-So-New Blog.

If anyone else notices new comments in the future... please post here
Or start a new question
KInd of like waving a flag... a sort of blog alert

Asked By John Brooks | Sep 5 09
32 Answers
PassivHaus Clothes Dryers?

I would like to learn more about how those building to the PassivHaus airtightness guidelines deal with the clothes dryer.

I did some internet research, but couldn't find much information on the CFM rating for clothes dryers. I'm assuming they are rated at 200 - 400 CFM, depending on the size the of the dryer. With the current trend toward bigger appliances, perhaps it's even larger than that . . . I don't know.

For a house built to 0.5 ACH50Pa, does this throw the system off balance? Do clothes dry? Is there enough air exchange?

Asked By Daniel Ernst | May 3 10
2 Answers
Passivhaus Translations

I thought I would start another thread specific to the discussion of translating Passivhaus documents.

I really like these educational panels(posters)
http://www.passivhausausstellung.de/#download
Is there an English version?

Asked By John Brooks | May 5 10
1 Answer
Passive House Consultant training

I'm considering taking the Passive House Consultant training program, and was curious if anyone out there has done it. I'm a LEED AP (BD+C, Homes) and a licensed architect with over 17 years of experience. I'm doing a lot of reading about the standard (the many articles and posts on GBA have been very helpful, thanks), but haven't seen much on the consultant training. Any opinions?

Asked By Roxanne Button | May 5 10
19 Answers
Hot Water in PH (passive house)

I am designing a PH as a vacation house in Vermont. We will have a peak load of 10 persons over the weekend.

This is a lot of hot water.

Can anyone point me to a Wood Stove/Hot Water heater with:

Outside Air Intake
Hot Water Coils
Oven
Cooktop

in Modern Design with a large percentage of heat going to the water?

Like this:
http://www.wodtke.com/momo.html (hw only)
http://www.euroflues.com/products/fireplaces/woodstove/pallas-back (cooking & oven)
http://www.twlag.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=... (hw only)

Asked By Steven Landau | Jun 16 09
5 Answers
Can I build a Passivhaus using recycled shipping containers?

I am currently designing prefabricated housing using recycled shipping containers (i.e. the weeHouse by Alchemy Architects) and would like the structure to meet the requirements for PassivHaus certification. Is this possible? Are PassivHaus certified windows and doors compatible with this style of construction? The site is near Olympia, Washington on the Evergreen State College Campus.

Asked By Nick | Mar 2 10