Description
Book SynopsisThe Passivhaus Handbook is an essential guide to realizing a supremely comfortable, healthy and durable home with exceptionally low energy costs. It focuses on getting the building fabric right, to achieve ultra-low energy consumption in the most cost-effective manner. The approach is relevant to a wide range of building types and climates.
Trade ReviewAs we move towards the 2016 zero carbon target in house building, Passivhaus construction looks like becoming not just popular in the UK, but commonplace. This is a no-nonsense and engaging introduction on how to do it. * Kevin McCloud *
This excellent book acts both as an introduction to the details of the Passivhaus methodology and how it works in practice. Anyone who has clients who have expressed interest in a Passivhaus project would be well advised to suggest they get a copy of the book, as it is extremely well written and accessible. * Dave Palmer FBEng RIBA *
This book gives a wonderful overview of Passivhaus in the UK today, not only enabling interested parties to understand the principles and pitfalls for their own projects, but also for policy makers and planning officers to understand how to avoid some of their ‘own goals’ in attempting to encourage conservation. * Peter Warm, Passivhaus Consultant, Trainer and Certifier *
The Passivhaus Handbook really is the ‘bible’ for developing passivhaus housing, particularly if you are thinking of a self-build passivhaus. * Elrond Burrell, Passivhaus in Plain English *
I‘m delighted to see everything about Passivhaus and its application in the UK collated for the first tiime, in
The Passivhaus Handbook. The first-hand experience of the authors provides an excellent grounding for the book. * Jon Bootland, Chief Executive, Passivhaus Trust *
Table of ContentsForeword 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
