The NYT had an article in today’s paper about the boomlet in Germany — constructing what they term a “passive” house.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/world/europe/27house.html?_r=1&scp=1sq=passive%20house&st=cse
Only heat source: heat/air exchanger, plus any heat generated by people, appliances, and solar gain from south facing windows. (no boiler, furnace, solar panels, wind turbine, etc.)
Energy cost: for both heat/hot water, cost is about the same as running a hair dryer.
Insulation: heavy duty, but article does not say how much, what kind.
Doors/windows: specially manufactured to be super tight; not yet widely available in U.S. Shell is virtually airtight.
Building Costs: 5-7% higher than conventional housing (in Germany, since doors/windows are more readily available).
Downside: 1) Optimally, site should be oriented to south, 2) Best for “compact” homes. Designer quoted says 500 square feet per person.
Info for U.S:
http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PHIUSHome.html
QUESTIONS: 1) anybody around here know about this technique? 2) Why does this kind of forward thinking always seem to come from abroad?
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“It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts.”
John Wooden 1910-
Replies
People have been building passive homes for 50 years. There are always new advances, but the technology in general is fairly mature and well-defined. It's more a matter of having the will to built them.
People have been building passive homes for 50 years. There are always new advances, but the technology in general is fairly mature and well-defined. It's more a matter of having the will to built them.
Dan, I have a learned much from your posts since I have been at Breaktime.
Come on down to the discussion in the Green Building Folder.
I think we can All learn something from the Germans.
John
""People have been building passive homes for 50 years."" Maybe when it comes to "modern " housing, but passive housing structures have been around since man moved into caves. We so often reinvent the wheel of life.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Why does this kind of forward thinking always seem to come from abroad?
Because heating fuel and energy utilities were already very high in Europe for many years.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Not to mention the fact that Russia has a strangle-hold on Europe's energy supply.
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
This is also being discussed on the other forum:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=114460.1
Join in on this earlier thread in Green Building.
114460.1
Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.