Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/769149
Passive house construction involves a concerted effort to dramatically reduce home energy consumption while maintaining comfort. But its potential advantages extend far beyond utility costs. T HE PASSIVE HOUSE concept emerged from the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, which put a premium on home energy e® ciency. In nearly 50 years, sustainable energy practices employed by home builders have grown more refi ned. Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), a nonprofi t organization committed to transforming passive building strategies from a niche interest into a mainstream practice, has established fi ve primary standards for passive builds. According to PHIUS, passive homes should: Feature balanced moisture and heat recovery ventilation Harness solar energy to manage heating and cooling systems Be outfitted with high-performance windows and doors Have a near-airtight building envelope Be super-insulated and have no thermal bridge Creati ng a n a i r tig ht bui ld i ng envelope requi res ma na g i ng a n d f i l t e r i n g a l l a i r e n t e r i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e u s i n g e n e r g y r e c over y vent i l a t ion [E RVs] , wh i le e l i m i n a t i n g a ny cr a c k s or gaps t hat m ig ht a l low u n f i ltered a i r i n . ERVs equa li ze t he a mou nt of a i r entering a nd ex it i n g t he st r uct u re, creat i n g a c on s t a nt pre s s u re. A s it ex it s , a i r pa s se s a heat exch a n ger, which sa lvages heat. Ma inta ining a n a ir tight envelope a llows the builder to ensure fresh a ir is delivered ef f iciently precisely where it 's needed. " None of these things a re black box, wild technolog y," says M ic h a e l K ne z ov ic h , Me d i a D i r e c t or of PH I US . " T he s e a r e things builders have a lready done, but done more ca ref ully a nd with a systems approach from the sta r t." Performance-based Certifi cation Un l i ke ot her g re en bu i ld i n g c er t i f ic at ion prog r a m s s uch a s LEED, PHIUS+ cer tif ication is ba sed on per forma nce, not desi g n element s . T h at approa ch , coupled w it h t he fa c t t h at PHIUS+ cer tif ication is in its infa ncy, mea ns that, beyond the f ive prima r y sta nda rds of pa ssive house building, there a re no sta nda rdized materia l lists or best practices. Passive House: What Builders and Designers Need to Know By Will Smith THE | Greater Boston Builder+Architect BOSTON.BUILDERARCHITECT.COM