Community: PassivHaus

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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

0 Answers
An upcoming Passivhaus conference in Portland, Oregon

Passive House North West is planning a conference on Mach 2, 2012 at Portland State University’s University Place in Portland, Oregon.

The keynote speaker will be Jerry Yudelson. speaking on the topic “Climbing the Summit to Passive and Zero Energy Buildings.”

For more information, click here:
http://www.phnw.org/63/97/phnw-spring-2012-conference.html

Asked By Martin Holladay | Feb 7 12
1 Answer
Second Try: Wolfgang Feist Responds to Rideau Residences Controversy

The Passivhaus Institut has approved the release of Dr. Wolfgang Feist's response to the controversy surrounding the Passivhaus certification issued to the Rideau Residences in Ottawa. (For more information on the controversy, see Is This Building Passivhaus-Certified?)

After GBA published Dr. Feist's response last Friday, the Passivhaus Institut told us that the release of the letter was not approved. Now we have heard that the letter can be made public. Dr. Feist wrote:

Asked By Martin Holladay | Feb 7 12
3 Answers
Dr. Wolfgang Feist responds to questions about the Rideau Residences

UPDATE: February 7, 2012. Dr. Feist's statement has been released. Click here to read it.

On February 3, 2012, Dr. Wolfgang Feist issued a written response to questions about the certification of the Rideau Residences.

After I received the statement and posted it here, I received an e-mail informing me that the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt is requesting that Dr. Feist's statement not be published.

I am respecting their request, and have therefore removed Dr. Feist's statement.

Asked By Martin Holladay | Feb 3 12
0 Answers
A nice TV news report on Alan Gibson's Passivhaus development

Here's a link to an interesting TV news report on Alan Gibson's Passivhaus development in Belfast, Maine:
http://www.wmtw.com/video/30363803/detail.html

Congratulations, Alan -- looks good.

Asked By Martin Holladay | Feb 3 12
2 Answers
New York Passive House responds

Below, see the response by New York Passive House to PHIUS's cease-and-desist letter. (For an updated report on this controversy, see PHIUS Tries to Trademark ‘Certified Passive House Consultant.’)

Dear NYPH Member,

Asked By Martin Holladay | Jan 28 12
8 Answers
PHIUS lawyers accuse New York Passive House of stealing PHIUS's “trade secrets”

Lawyers representing the Passive House Institute U.S. have sent a cease-and-desist letter to a regional Passivhaus organization in New York, accusing the group of stealing PHIUS's e-mail list. The letter includes several “demands.”

Three New York Passive House board members have issued a letter denying PHIUS's charges. They say that the e-mail list used by New York Passive House is their own, not one stolen from PHIUS.

To read the details of this story, see the new paragraphs appended this morning to yesterday's news story:

Asked By Martin Holladay | Jan 27 12
2 Answers
Are Fi-Wi or Fine Wire Ventilation systems for a Passive house adequate or hyped up?

As the question implies I wonder if any one here has any thoughts on this ventilation system I have come across on a particular site in Ireland. Here's a link to it http://www.viking-house.ie/fine-wire-hrv.html

Here's an extract -

Asked By Tim O Brien | Jan 20 12
5 Answers
How to build a movable passive solar heat sink?

My wife & I are remodeling a house to accomodate a 133 inch long dining table when fully expanded. Most of the time the table is closed to a 60 inch diameter. We will install a south facing window approx. 7 ft. long x 4 ft. high. Except for when the table is fully expanded (1% of the time), we could have a passive solar heat sink inside the room near the window, but need to move it to accommodate the table when fully expanded. Have been thinking of something water filled. We could install a faucet & drain in the room. A movable sink would also allow it to be unused during the summer.

Asked By Robert McDonald | May 24 09
19 Answers
Net-zero help!

Hi GBAers! Just joined and this is my first post, and it's a noob question from someone who's never built a home before: how "real" are heat studies, really?

To help me understand how to build my net-zero home, I've created some spreadsheet-based heat studies. From my simplistic and idealistic studies, I've learned that with little infiltration, good ventilation with recovery, and great insulation, it appears possible to build a net-zero home here in at 4200 feet in Salt Lake City proper. [1]

Asked By Jan Nielsen | Dec 21 11
8 Answers
Hardwood floors in a Passivhaus

Passivhaus question: Do hardwood floors contract and gap in winter as noticeably as they do in a conventionally-built house?

My husband and I are building a Passivhaus in Vermont and want to install hardwood floors. I'm tempted by pre-finished flooring, since we wouldn't have to go through the mess and expense of sanding and finishing on-site. But I hate the little dirt-strips that inevitably form in the micro-beveled edges.

Asked By Andrea Lemon | Dec 6 11
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