Concern over global climate change and energy independence have dramatically changed the construction industry over the last decade. From green building programs like LEED and the National Green Building Standard to the model energy codes, the trend toward more energy-efficient buildings is undeniable.
For builders and architects trying to adapt their practices to these new standards, SIPs present an attractive option, as detailed in an article from the June issue of Walls & Ceilings magazine. The article covers the economical advantages of building with SIPs when trying to meet a higher energy efficiency standard, such as the 2012 IECC, Energy Star, or Passive House. Here’s an except:
Concern over global climate change and energy independence have dramatically changed the construction industry over the last decade. From green building programs like LEED and the National Green Building Standard to the model energy codes, the trend toward more energy-efficient buildings is undeniable.
For builders and architects trying to adapt their practices to these new standards, SIPs present an attractive option, as detailed in an article from the June issue of Walls & Ceilings magazine. The article covers the economical advantages of building with SIPs when trying to meet a higher energy efficiency standard, such as the 2012 IECC, Energy Star, or Passive House. Here’s an except:
Don’t let looks fool you. Although the Hudson Passive Project uses a barn-inspired A-frame design, behind the walls are foot-think structural insulated panels (SIPs) that make the home super-insulated and virtually airtight. The home meets the rigorous Passive House Standard, meaning it uses up to 90 percent less energy for heating and cooling. Passive Houses require a high performance building envelope, and the Hudson project uses 12 1/4-inch SIPs from Timberline Panel Company with an R-value of R-50 for the walls and roof. The foundation has an R-value of R-60, thanks to six layers of EPS foam beneath the slab, and XPS foam on the inside and outside of the foundation walls. Passive solar heating and daylighting is provided by a glass wall on the south-facing side of the home, built with triple pane windows rated at R-7.
Architect Dennis Wedlick partnered with Bill Stratten Building Co. to design and build the 1,650 sq. ft. home. Wiedlick emphasized five different areas during his design: a small footprint, continuous insulation and elimination of thermal bridging, passive solar gain, air circulation with heat recovery, and reduced air infiltration. The designer’s emphasis on eliminating air leakage has paid off— a blower-door test revealed air leakage of only 0.149 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50), well under the Passive House standard of 0.6 ACH50
To read more visit ecohome magazine.
Don’t let looks fool you. Although the Hudson Passive Project uses a barn-inspired A-frame design, behind the walls are foot-think structural insulated panels (SIPs) that make the home super-insulated and virtually airtight. The home meets the rigorous Passive House Standard, meaning it uses up to 90 percent less energy for heating and cooling. Passive Houses require a high performance building envelope, and the Hudson project uses 12 1/4-inch SIPs from Timberline Panel Company with an R-value of R-50 for the walls and roof. The foundation has an R-value of R-60, thanks to six layers of EPS foam beneath the slab, and XPS foam on the inside and outside of the foundation walls. Passive solar heating and daylighting is provided by a glass wall on the south-facing side of the home, built with triple pane windows rated at R-7.
Architect Dennis Wedlick partnered with Bill Stratten Building Co. to design and build the 1,650 sq. ft. home. Wiedlick emphasized five different areas during his design: a small footprint, continuous insulation and elimination of thermal bridging, passive solar gain, air circulation with heat recovery, and reduced air infiltration. The designer’s emphasis on eliminating air leakage has paid off— a blower-door test revealed air leakage of only 0.149 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50), well under the Passive House standard of 0.6 ACH50
To read more visit ecohome magazine.
This stunning passive solar home in Park City, Utah was selected by Green Builder Magazine as their 2010 Green Home of the Year for its innovative design and net-zero energy performance. Designed by architect Jean-Yves Lacroix, the European-inspired home uses 12-inch structural insulated panels (SIPs) from Premier Building Systems for the walls and roof. The passive solar design maximizes solar heat gain during the winter months and retains that heat using a thick concrete facade and the super-insulated SIP building envelope. An additional 4 inches of rigid foam insulation was added to the exterior of the 12-inch SIP roof panels for an R-value of R-68.
Ninety percent of the home’s heating and hot water needs are provided by a solar powered system that includes a hydronic radiant heating system with solar collectors on the roof and behind the prefinished steel siding. Hot water is stored in two 5,000 gallon storage tanks and delivered through the radiant heating system as directed by temperature controllers throughout the home. Domestic hot water is also provided by the solar-heated system, aided by a heat recovery exchanger on some wastewater drains and a recirculation system for showers.
This stunning passive solar home in Park City, Utah was selected by Green Builder Magazine as their 2010 Green Home of the Year for its innovative design and net-zero energy performance. Designed by architect Jean-Yves Lacroix, the European-inspired home uses 12-inch structural insulated panels (SIPs) from Premier Building Systems for the walls and roof. The passive solar design maximizes solar heat gain during the winter months and retains that heat using a thick concrete facade and the super-insulated SIP building envelope. An additional 4 inches of rigid foam insulation was added to the exterior of the 12-inch SIP roof panels for an R-value of R-68.
Ninety percent of the home’s heating and hot water needs are provided by a solar powered system that includes a hydronic radiant heating system with solar collectors on the roof and behind the prefinished steel siding. Hot water is stored in two 5,000 gallon storage tanks and delivered through the radiant heating system as directed by temperature controllers throughout the home. Domestic hot water is also provided by the solar-heated system, aided by a heat recovery exchanger on some wastewater drains and a recirculation system for showers.
“We chose this project as our Green Home of the Year because of the way it marries sleek European design with high performance,” says Green Builder media editorial director Cati O’Keefe. “We received many excellent entries, but this home exemplified how green can be both beautiful and affordable.”
A 6.9kW photovoltaic array on the roof provides more than enough energy to power the home, allowing the owners to sell power back to their utility company.
The builder, Garret Strong of Tall Pines Construction, had the home certified to LEED for Homes Platinum and the Emerald level of the National Green Building Standard.
To see more, check out greenbuildermag.com and Jetson Green.
Watch NBC Wasington’s profile of the Washington, DC area’s first certified Passive House, currently under construction in Bethesda, Maryland. SIPA member PanelWrights, LLC began installing structural insulated panels (SIPs) in October and the house is now dried-in and catching the attention of the local media. The home is expected to use only one-tenth of the heating and cooling energy used in a conventional home thanks to a well-insulated SIP building envelope and passive solar orientation.
Follow the construction of the home on the Passive House DC blog, maintained by project architect Peabody Architects and builder O’Neill Development.
Bethesda, MD (October 6, 2010) – Crews from PanelWrights, LLC began installing energy-efficient structural insulated panels (SIPs) on what will be Maryland’s first certified Passive House. The project is a joint venture between O’Neill Construction Corporation of Gaithersburg, MD, and Peabody Architects of Alexandria, VA.
Widely popular in Europe, ultra-efficient passive homes are now gaining traction in the U.S. as a cost effective way to drastically reduce energy consumption. Passive homes require only one-tenth of the heating and cooling energy used in a conventional home by utilizing a super-insulated building envelope and a passive solar orientation.
By eschewing expensive high tech solutions, such as solar panels or geothermal heat pumps, passive homes can be built for only 10 to 15 percent more than a conventional home, according to the Passive House Institute U.S. Architect David Peabody plans to meet the rigorous program standards using relatively inexpensive materials and by focusing on eliminating air leakage—a huge culprit for heat loss in a home.
“The key to the Passive House is in reducing energy demand to the point that traditional mechanical systems become irrelevant,” said Peabody. “This required an assiduous approach to eliminating air infiltration and thermal bridging.”
Bethesda, MD (October 6, 2010) – Crews from PanelWrights, LLC began installing energy-efficient structural insulated panels (SIPs) on what will be Maryland’s first certified Passive House. The project is a joint venture between O’Neill Development of Gaithersburg, MD, and Peabody Architects of Alexandria, VA.
Widely popular in Europe, ultra-efficient passive homes are now gaining traction in the U.S. as a cost effective way to drastically reduce energy consumption. Passive homes require only one-tenth of the heating and cooling energy used in a conventional home by utilizing a super-insulated building envelope and a passive solar orientation.
By eschewing expensive high tech solutions, such as solar panels or geothermal heat pumps, passive homes can be built for only 10 to 15 percent more than a conventional home, according to the Passive House Institute U.S. Architect David Peabody plans to meet the rigorous program standards using relatively inexpensive materials and by focusing on eliminating air leakage—a huge culprit for heat loss in a home.
“The key to the Passive House is in reducing energy demand to the point that traditional mechanical systems become irrelevant,” said Peabody. “This required an assiduous approach to eliminating air infiltration and thermal bridging.”
Peabody and builder Brendan O’Neill specified structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the above-grade walls and roof of the home. SIPs are composed of insulating foam sandwiched between two structural facings, creating an effective air barrier that can be easily sealed at the joints between the prefabricated panels. To meet the Passive House standard, homes must reach an air infiltration requirement of 0.6 ACH50, determined by a blower door test.
“When I first spoke with Brendan, meeting the air infiltration requirement was one of his biggest concerns,” said Al Cobb, President of PanelWrights, who provided and installed SIPs on the project. “Having built hundreds of SIP homes, I was confident that a properly installed SIP envelope could meet the Passive House requirements, and I was able to guarantee the builder that we could do that.”
The O’Neill-Peabody project, designed in the Craftsman vernacular of the American Foursquare, is out to demonstrate that this exotic sounding European import can look and feel like a traditional American home that sells at a competitive price. In addition to the energy-saving benefits of owning a passive home, occupants experience increased comfort, consistent indoor temperature and better indoor air quality. O’Neill’s decision to embark on the project started when he visited a passive home in Illinois during the middle of a Midwest blizzard.
“It was as toasty and comfortable as any house I’d ever been in,” said O’Neill. “I looked in the mechanical room and the little heat pump was barely even running. I turned to Brendan, Jr. and said, ‘We’ve got to build one of these.’”
The home is expected to be completed in the spring of 2011. Tours are available by appointment.
Follow the construction at http://passivehouse.greenhaus.org/
The New York Times profiles the Landau family, who is building a Passive House in Norwich, Vermont. Although widely popular in Europe, passive homes are just now beginning to gain traction in the U.S. There are currently 13 homes that meet the rigorous Passive House standard established by the Passive House Institute US.
Passive homes like the Landau’s use a super-insulated building envelope to reduce heating and cooling energy by 90 percent. That’s right, 90 percent. Rather than rely on solar panels, geothermal or other advanced systems to cut energy use, passive homes focus on proper solar orientation and air sealing to virtually eliminate heat loss. Most passive homes do not even require a conventional heat source.
Read the full article at the New York Times
