'As 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
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The Passivhaus Handbook is an essential guide for anyone wanting to realise a supremely comfortable, healthy and durable home with exceptionally low energy costs.
Passivhaus design focuses on getting the building fabric right, to achieve ultra-low energy consumption cost-effectively. The approach is relevant to a wide range of building types and climates. Its methodology can be combined with elements of other building standards, such as the UK’s Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), or with other sustainable building goals, such as a commitment to using low-impact or natural building materials.
Whether you are building an extension, retrofitting your house or starting from scratch, and whether you are new to low-energy design or already have some experience, this book will help you navigate around the potential pitfalls and misconceptions. It brings together current thinking and best practice.
The book includes a clear explanation of the underlying building physics and terminology, as well as detailed information on key elements of Passivhaus: avoiding air leakage, designing thermal (cold) bridges, moisture management and ventilation strategy. There is also lots of practical advice on setting up a project, including developing a motivated project team, and a discussion of economic considerations and the policy context in the UK.
As pressure on global resources increases and energy prices continue to rise, the Passivhaus approach, proven over 20 years, meets the challenge of ultra-low-energy building for the future.
By:
Janet Cotterell,
Adam Dadeby
Imprint: Green Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 255mm,
Width: 205mm,
Spine: 19mm
Weight: 916g
ISBN: 9780857840196
ISBN 10: 0857840193
Series: Sustainable Building
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 25 October 2012
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
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
Adam Dadeby and Janet Cotterell are directors of Passivhaus Homes Ltd., which has recently completed one of the very few fully Certified Passivhaus retrofits in the UK - featured in their book The Passivhaus Handbook, due out in 2012. The retrofit is also exceptional in having achieved one of the best air-tightness results in the UK. More information on Passivhaus and on Adam and Janet can be found at www.passivhaushomes.co.uk. Janet is a chartered architect with over 20 years' experience. She is also a Certified Passivhaus Designer and holds an MSc in Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies. Janet has a history of working in sensitive settings (conservation areas, listed buildings, historic parks) and therefore is familiar with the use of traditional and natural materials. In more recent years a growing appreciation of the importance of sustainable building practice (and a growing dissatisfaction with mainstream building practice and culture) has lead to a process of re-education and re-evaluation, culminating in a new focus on the implementation of low-energy design principles and in more collaborative teamworking. Adam was previously employed in the NHS, then, in Berlin, in foreign language training and, back in the UK, in information technology. 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). Studying at CAT has been a great opportunity for Adam to consider different approaches to 'sustainability' and 'resilience' as they affect building practice.
Reviews for The Passivhaus Handbook: A practical guide to constructing and retrofitting buildings for ultra-low energy performance
As 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 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 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 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... It's a very good introduction to the subject, introducing all the key issues in plain English and giving examples of real solutions...The challenge set by the book is to increase the number of Passivhaus buildings in order to reduce emissions and increase the quality of construction... The first-hand experience of the authors provides an excellent grounding for this highly recommended book. -- Dave Palmer FBEng RIBA Building Engineer
