iPHC - Darmstadt
Bronwyn Barry, CPHD
Darmstadt, GermanyIPHC, April 2016
Optimizing Passive House:A look at Kranichstein (&
Saskatoon) through the lens of PDT-Passivhaus
passivhaus.protolife.com
Overview:
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The need for optimization & the birth of
PDT-PassivhausLooking at Kranichstein was it optimized?A demo
project in SaskatoonFuture Plans & Questions2
The PHPP spreadsheet can be intimidatingVariable exploration
requires tedious manual labor or complex macro programming skillsNo
established habit of optimization Opportunities to meet the Passive
House Standard are being missedWhy the need for Optimization?
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Our Adventure: In search of PHPP source cells...
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Image Credit: L: www.britannica.com, R:
www.moviesdvdreleases.com4
Your intrepid explorers
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Norman PackardRalph BarhydtBronwyn Barry
William Barhydt
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In search of variables
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Where we began
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Variablespecification
Graphicaloutput7
What weve developed
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Two options: Single variable fixed optimizationFull dynamic
optimization & data
Outputs are: GraphicDownloadable in visual or numeric
formats.
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How it works
passivhaus.protolife.comSoftware as a Service
User creates an accountUploads a PHPP Selects variablesRun &
review resultsUses outputs to modify PHPP
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Looking at Kranichsteinpassivhaus.protolife.com
Kranichstein: By the Assemblies
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Exterior Wall U-ValueBasement Ceiling U-ValueRoof U-ValueWindow
Surface Area11
Kranichstein: By Window Areas
passivhaus.protolife.comNorth Window AreaWest Window Area
South Window Area
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Kranichstein: Heat Load vs Heating Demand
passivhaus.protolife.comWindow Surface AreaAvg. Window
U-Value
Exterior Wall U-Value
Roof U-Value
HRV/ERV Recovery % Efficiency
Airtightness Benefit
Window Spacer Psi Value
South Window Area
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Kranichstein: Hypothetical explorations
passivhaus.protolife.comRadical Heating Demand Reduction if but
WHY? 14
Kranichstein: Window Replacement
passivhaus.protolife.comBest Window U-Value = 0.35 W/(m2K)
Window Frame U-Value= 0.504 W/(m2K)
Spacer Psi Value as critical for heat loss (more for
hygiene)
Findings:Not a significant reduction in the overall Heat
Load15
Kranichstein: Added Solar insteadpassivhaus.protolife.comImage
Credit: @wolfgangfeist16
Saskatoon Example Project Optimizationpassivhaus.protolife.comA
small project in a challenging climate
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Saskatoon: Climate and Locationpassivhaus.protolife.com
19 Saskatoon: Initial PHPP Results & Assemblies
The metric PHPP results shown above, and assemblies shown at
right are prior to optimization.Assemblies chart: metric in red and
IP units in white.
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Saskatoon: PHPP Energy Balance GraphFind this graph in your
PHPP(Usually on the Annual Heating Sheet)
Review to identify which items in your project are losing the
most energy?
For this project they are:
WindowsVentilationExterior Wall - Ambient
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21 Saskatoon:Full Optimize Option
1- Select the Full Optimize tab2- Select your Target3- Select
your Variables
4- Configure
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22 Saskatoon: Selected ranges
2- Launch!
1- Adjust sliders to a feasible range
Note: current value for each variable is provided here
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The following variables have constant values for all
optimizations in this range: Window Area: 12Airtightness: 0.18
Specific Space Heating Demand = 25.022 Saskatoon: Full Optimize
results1- Constants are Solid Choices!
2- Review Lowest Outputs next
3- Review other large clusters
24 Saskatoon: Explore Heat Load Target
1- Try Heating Load2- Try new Variables
3- Configure
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Saskatoon: Make design changesBEFOREAFTERSouth & East
ElevationsNorth & West Elevations(Your window style &
placement may vary)
Saskatoon: Modified PHPP Assemblies
With your PDT-Passivhaus outputs, use the results to modify your
PHPP and select the combination that best suits your project. For
this project using fewer, higher performance windows, plus a
tighter building envelope, our floor, wall and roof assemblies dont
need to be as well insulated. Choose what best reduces costs!
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Saskatoon: Success!
This project meets the PH Standard via Heating Load
Summary & Future Plans: PDT-Passivhaus
passivhaus.protolife.comConclusions:Heating Load target appears
to be best goal for most climatesCulture & habit of
optimization needs to be nurturedVisualization of choices is
helpful
Future Plans:Looking for user feedbackCurrently Free to Beta
UsersUpdated for PHPP v.9 (metric and IP)
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29passivhaus.protolife.comTwitter: @PDT_Passivhaus
Thank You
Bronwyn Barry,
[email protected] Questions?
