China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Sustainability and Building Information Modelling
Published in Arthur Lyons, Materials for Architects and Builders, 2019
The Passivhaus standard aims to reduce the requirement for space heating and cooling while maintaining good air quality and comfort levels. This requires very high levels of insulation, including thermal bridge-free construction and high-performance windows, in addition to an airtight building fabric incorporating mechanical ventilation with full heat recovery. The criteria for Passivhaus certification are based on threshold levels of energy utilisation and air changes, with limiting values of thermal performance data, as indicated in Table 18.1.
Generic design strategies for energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings
Published in Paul Tymkow, Savvas Tassou, Maria Kolokotroni, Hussam Jouhara, Building Services Design for Energy-Efficient Buildings, 2020
Paul Tymkow, Savvas Tassou, Maria Kolokotroni, Hussam Jouhara
The key features to achieve the Passivhaus concept and standard include high levels of insulation (‘superinsulation’); windows with insulated frames to avoid thermal bridging; a compact form to minimise surface area in relation to volume; a building that is airtight to avoid uncontrolled leakage; optimal orientation, plus glazing performance and ratios, to provide good daylighting and beneficial solar gains; and mechanical ventilation with high-efficiency heat recovery (MVHR) (Hopfe and McLeod 2015)
The Passivhaus energy-efficiency standard
Published in Jane Powell, Jennifer Monahan, Chris Foulds, Building Futures, 2015
Jane Powell, Jennifer Monahan, Chris Foulds
Passivhaus buildings achieve most of their energy reductions through a ‘fabric first’ approach that minimises the need for space heating and cooling. Buildings are so well insulated, with minimum ventilation heat loss, that they stay warm by using the heat from people, solar gain and appliances (incidental gains) (Figure 6.1). For example, in theory one could significantly help to heat their home by using their hairdryer or vacuum cleaner.
Net Zero Energy Consumption building in India: An overview and initiative toward sustainable future
Published in International Journal of Green Energy, 2022
Lohit Saini, Chandan Swaroop Meena, Binju P Raj, Nehul Agarwal, Ashok Kumar
Achieving an nZECB goal is more convenient for new construction but for a preexisting building, it can be attained through retrofitting, by improving its energy efficiency and using renewable sources for energy generation and energy optimization (Albadry, Tarabieh, and Sewilam 2017; Vora, Rajgor, and Pitroda 2016). Although retro-fitted buildings are more expensive than a new nZECB due to restrictions of preexisting building orientation, position, shape and geometry (Joshi, Pathak, and Singh 2014), but various studies suggest that it can be achieved within competitive cost (Albadry, Tarabieh, and Sewilam 2017). Instead of altering the building’s structural components and energy supply system, energy consumption can be reduced up to 20–30% by optimizing the operations and improving the EEMS in a building (Guan, Xu, and Jia 2010; Kneifel 2010). The energy consumed for heating in a conventional building can be saved up to 80% in a Passivhaus (Zeiler and Boxem 2013). Broadly, nZECB is based on the concept of energy optimization and clean energy generation through sustainable renewable resources (Albadry, Tarabieh, and Sewilam 2017; Feng et al. 2019) hence; nZECB mainly focuses on balancing the energy requirements to reduce the energy demand and the required energy load generation (Pless and Torcellini 2010).
Has a singular focus of building regulations created unhealthy homes?
Published in Architectural Science Review, 2020
Shruti Nath, Mark Dewsbury, Jeroen Douwes
Table 3 shows the changes required for insulation levels in floors, external walls and ceilings since 1996, for the NCC Climate Zone 7, which encompasses most of Tasmania. These show a progressive increase in the insulation requirement for each part of the external envelope. Other aspects of the regulations that changed the external envelope were requirements for improved glazing to reduce unwanted outward and inward heat flow and requirements for building sealing. Even with the 6 Star requirements, a new home can be designed for Tasmania which includes mix of single and double glazing. The building sealing requirements in Australia have never included a quantification or value for Air Change Rate or Air Changes per Hour. As a result, and as mentioned above, research by Ambrose and Syme (2015) measured ACH50 rates for new Australian homes that ranged from 1.4 to 39.0. The low values for Hobart concerned Dr Dewsbury, who made personal contact with collaborators in Hobart. They openly stated that some of the Hobart houses had been ‘blower door tested’ during the construction stage, as they were aiming for passivhaus or very low energy status. This was and still is a very rare practice and the very low value of 1.4 ACH should not be seen as ‘typical’. Table 3 shows the compilation of commensurate changes made in the insulation levels for roof, external walls and floors till date.
Passive house vs. passive design: sociotechnical issues in a practice-based design research project for a low-energy house
Published in Architectural Science Review, 2020
David Kroll, Sarah Breen Lovett, Carlos Jimenez-Bescos, Peter Chisnall, Mathew Aitchison
The Passive House standard was identified as one of the criteria to verify the aim of achieving a high level of energy performance. The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) was used to assess the energy performance of the building and to ensure that the design would be able to meet the criteria of a stringent performance standard. The number of completed buildings to Passive House standard has grown in recent years in Australia. The Passive House database currently counts 19 certified buildings across Australia, many only constructed in the last few years (Passivhaus Institut 2019). Yet, the approach still encounters a level of scepticism in Australia about its suitability for local climates, evidenced, for example, in the media in articles about the Passive House standard (Marlow 2016). Further research would be beneficial to better understand what caveats and adaptations to the Passive House approach may be useful for Australian contexts.