Passivhaus House – NC mountain home
Would someone provide some guidance on building to a Passivhaus design – especially with the wall stud design / insulation material. From what I read – we need to plan of R50 or R60. The most efficent design would be for foam but I would like input on wool.
Thank you.
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Replies
If it's going to be a certified Passivehaus, this is probably something your Passivehaus consultant will determine. There are many wall designs that will work; double stud, thick exterior foam or mineral wool. There's lots of great info on the pages listed here: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/how-do-everything
Nate,
Spray foam insulation isn't any more "efficient" than other types of insulation. It's one of many types. If you are interested in avoiding the use of foam, you may want to read this article: Building a Foam-Free House.
Sheep's wool insulation is available but expensive. Because of the high cost, it is rarely used in the U.S. For more information, see:
Lambs’ Wool Insulation Enters U.S. Market
Wool Insulation
SheepBATT, SheepROLL, SheepROCK, and SheepFILL Insulation