The Passivhaus Handbook

Janet Cotterell has wide experience of working in sensitive settings (conservation areas, listed buildings, historic parks), so is familiar with the use of traditional and natural materials. Her focus is on the importance of sustainable building practice and low-energy design principles. She is a chartered architect and a Certified Passivhaus Designer and holds an MSc in Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies. Adam Dadeby is interested in different approaches to ‘sustainability’ and ‘resilience’ as they affect building practice. He is a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and member of the AECB (the Sustainable Building Association) and holds a postgraduate diploma in Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT).

Foreword by Wolfgang Feist
Introduction
How to use this book

Part One: The how and why of Passivhaus
Chapter 1: What is a Passivhaus?
The Passivhaus energy standard, the Passivhaus concept, common misconceptions, retrofitting and the EnerPHit energy standard

Chapter 2: The economics of a Passivhaus
Economic culture, energy costs and supplies, factors affecting property prices, factors affecting Passivhaus costs, methods of determining cost-effectiveness

Chapter 3: Passivhaus Certification
Certification of buildings, building components, designers and contractors; the process and information required for building certification

Chapter 4: Challenges of meeting the Passivhaus standard
UK building culture, education and employment in construction, professional expertise, risk-aversity, the planning system, vernacular styles, the team approach, the disadvantages of a Passivhaus, Passivhaus and other low-energy standards

Chapter 5: Natural materials, zero carbon and resilience
Natural and low-embodied-energy building materials, zero carbon and the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), on-site low- or zero-carbon energy, post-peak energy, energy returned on energy invested (EROEI)

Chapter 6: Setting up a Passivhaus project
Choosing a plot, planning considerations, retrofit considerations, phased retrofitting and extensions, selecting an architect and builder, the role of the client

Part Two: Passivhaus projects: a practical guide

Chapter 7: Using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP)
History of the PHPP, PHPP worksheets: Verification, U-Values, Ground, WinType, Windows, Shading, Ventilation, Annual Heating Demand, Summer, Shading-S, DHW + Distribution, SolarDHW, Climate

Chapter 8: Thermal bridges
Constructional and geometrical thermal bridges, linear and point thermal bridges, thermal bypass, internal and external psi-values, dealing with thermal bridges, thermal bridge calculation

Chapter 9: Airtightness and sequencing
Air leakage and Passivhaus, internal air quality (IAQ), airtightness standards, wind-tightness, breathable materials, airtight materials, air leakage at the design stage and construction stage, sequencing, on-site communication and training, airtightness testing, typical airtight construction details

Chapter 10: Moisture
Liquid moisture and water vapour, relative humidity (RH) and indoor air quality (IAQ), capillarity, hygroscopicity, vapour permeability, moisture management in construction, breathability, example constructions (new build and retrofit)

Chapter 11: Windows
High-performance windows, U-values (frame, pane, spacer and installation factors), solar gain, window installation, window sills, doors, roof lights, avoiding summer overheating, the construction phase, future developments and costs

Chapter 12: Ventilation
Ventilation in UK housing and in Passivhaus, indoor air quality (IAQ), humidity, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) (components, heating, efficiency, noise levels, possible objections to MVHR, installation skills)

Chapter 13: Living in a Passivhaus
Noise, energy bills, kitchen and bathrooom, drying clothes, the MVHR, entering and leaving the house, case studies (Totnes Passivhaus, Denby Dale, Grove Cottage, Passivhaus apartment buildings)

Chapter 14: Policy change in the UK
Planning, a building-fabric-based energy standard, floor measurement conventions, VAT, Energy Performance Certificates, property tax, change in the construction sector, self-build, home-grown Passivhaus products, culture and policy-making

Appendix A: Space heating and hot water
Appendix B: Thermal conductivity values
Appendix C: US units - metric conversions
Appendix D: Certified Passivhaus projects in the UK
Glossary of terms
Glossary of units
Notes
Resources
Index