PASSIVE HOUSE PRECERTIFICATION

 

 

We received precertification status with Passive House U.S., or PHIUS last month.  This is our first project with  PHIUS and we are all excited for the challenge ahead. It will include a super insulated airtight envelope (0.6ACH50), continuous mechanical ventilation via a high efficiency ERV, rigorous control of solar gain, high performance windows, and a composting toilet.  We can also tap into our existing solar thermal hot water system to reduce the energy demand for water heating.  We spent a lot of time developing our design and energy model: now it's time to build it!

 

For more information on the Passive House U.S. program visit:

 http://www.phius.org/home-page

 

As the smallest Passive House U.S. project currently in precertification status, we have our work cut out for us!

Check out the PHIUS project database here.

FOUNDATION WORK BEGINS!

The footing - Thanksgiving break, 2014.

 

With the trenches roughed out, we began setting up the footing forms using XPS rigid insulation.  For the Passive House requirements we will have a continuous layer of insulation from the sides of each footing all the way to the roof.  Once we get above grade the insulating materials will change but this is where it all starts.

Atlas Concrete provided the concrete.  It was like having our own ready-mix plant right on site.  There was virtually no waste.

With 2" of XPS covering our footing we're off to a warm start.

After about a week of curing, she was ready for the foundation.  We will spend next week insulating and back filling in preparation for the floor slab.  Stay tuned!

 

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN.....

 

 

We've enjoyed our vacation but it's about time to kick off phase #3 - the final piece in our decade long house puzzle. We spent the summer data farming our site and modeling what we hope to be a quiet, efficient little abode for the Mrs. and I.  Stay tuned! 

 

 

 

TOOL BELT SPACE FOR RENT!

We've been on a bit of a sabbatical from the house work and recently found this little surprise in the shed.  It seems that one of our resident bird families decided to use my tool pouch as a nesting ground for this year's hatchlings. 

This evening we were setting up some temporary electrical work and noticed one of the eggs had hatched.  At this point we are not sure what type of bird it is - we will have to keep an eye out for mom as she delivers her daily treats to the kids.  We can see two more eggs waiting to hatch and will keep you posted on their status. 

Stay tuned! 



Summer 2011

Built-in Sofa

Meawhile inside the house, the new sofa was almost done.

Plumbing the system

Here is the plumbing diagram we will use for the system. We had to make a few minor changes including:
1. Using a temperature differential controller instead of an automatic controller in the floor loop
2. Adding a mixing valve to the domestic hot water supply.
3. Providing some form of 'heat drop' for excess heat that will be generated in the warmer months.
Installation will begin soon.....stay tuned!

Happy New Year! Let the plumbing begin! We started installing the system on New Years Eve. Not for any symbolic reason, I just didn't have anything better to do.......

I mocked everything up and had Solar Services Inc. come by and make sure we were on track. The Radiant Floor Company also provided a lot of feedback on the diagrams (which were revised once more) before we soldered all the pipes. Our original need for a 'heat dump' turned to be unnecessary. This system includes a drain back tank so the heat transfer fluid (water) can drop out of the panels when the system is not in use. The trade off here lies in the need for a larger circulation pump to lift the water every time the system kicks on.

With all that copper in the utility room someone recommended we get a guard dog. This little lady seemed scary enough!