Why Does Embodied Carbon Matter for MEP?

Posted by NYPH , September 12, 2023 - HVAC, Industry News

Buildings generate the most global carbon emissions annually. Energy use makes up ~30% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, while embodied carbon adds up to ~10%. Architecture 2030 challenges architects to design more energy efficient buildings, but the impacts of the systems installed can be significant. Mechanical equipment, delivery, refrigerants, and refrigerant leaks are commonly excluded from life-cycle analysis studies, so we don’t know the full extent of their impacts.…

Biden Administration Launches Effort to Improve Ventilation and Reduce the Spread of COVID-⁠19 in Buildings

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 21, 2022 - HVAC, News, Policy, Ventilation

FACT SHEET: Earlier this month, the Biden-Harris Administration released the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, a roadmap to move the country forward safely and continue to fight COVID-19 as Americans get back to their more normal routines.  Today the Administration is launching the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s Plan, that calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations of all kinds…

Component Award announced for ventilation in residential buildings

Posted by NYPH , August 13, 2015 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, News, Passive House Institute, Technical

Press Release, Passive House Institute, 11 August 2015 Innovators in the field of cost-effective systems for broad application to be honored [caption id="attachment_5342" align="aligncenter" width="779"] Ventilation With Heat Recovery (Image Credit: Passive House Institute)[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_5341" align="alignright" width="300"] Component Award 2016 (Image Credit: Passive House Institute)[/caption] Darmstadt, Germany. Ventilation with heat recovery is absolutely essential in energy efficient construction. The application of such systems in practice often fails due…

Passive House Institute also focuses on maximising energy efficiency for hot water / PHI Press Release

Posted by NYPH , May 21, 2015 - Events, HVAC, Passive House Institute

German manufacturer receives the first-ever certificates for drain water heat recovery (Press Release, Passive House Institute, 21 May 2015) "Darmstadt, Germany. For millions of people, a hot shower in the morning is an essential part of modern life – but it also consumes a lot of energy. In order to contribute to increased efficiency in this area, the Passive House Institute has introduced certification criteria for systems for heat recovery…

A Review of Ventilation in Proposed PHIUS Standard

Posted by NYPH , January 22, 2015 - HVAC

Below are comments made to the PHIUS review committee by Barry Stephens of Zehnder America.  Reprinted here with permission. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In reviewing the Climate Specific Passive Building Standards, I encounter some glaring deficiencies. Although there is a lack of detail in the draft with regards to H/ERVs and ventilation, it can be determined that there is no actual standard being used to quantify energy efficiency and/or energy recovery that correlates…

Parsons graduate architecture students performing case studies of NYC buildings looking for partners

Posted by NYPH , August 14, 2014 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, News, Technical

David White of Right Environments, a NYPH member and Parsons faculty, is looking for architects, developers, or building owners to partner with Parsons graduate architecture students performing case studies of NYC buildings.  They will be studying energy use, thermal comfort, air quality, and related building science subjects. The partner will meet with students to discuss the design approach and potential areas of study; provide drawings; and help coordinate permission for access to…

AAVs (Air Admittance Valves)

Posted by NYPH , March 14, 2014 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC

[caption id="attachment_2579" align="alignright" width="80"] AAV[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2581" align="alignright" width="80"] TYPICAL VENT STACK[/caption] Venting of plumbing fixtures has been a standard in the design and construction of plumbing systems in New York City buildings for almost a century. Vented plumbing stacks are required to maintain a water seal in a fixture's trap, the U-shaped section of pipe below a sink, which creates an air lock that prevents the entrance of sewer gasses. Without the trap's water…

Building Efficiency and Blower Doors: Essential Responses to Sandy

Posted by NYPH , August 2, 2013 - HVAC, News, Technical

By Ken Levenson, A.I.A. Superstorm Sandy has produced a torrent of meetings, plans, reports, announcements and actions by city, state, federal and non-governmental organizations. Today, before their terms expire, the New York City Council and Mayor are racing to pass important legislation based on these past months of herculean effort. While the action may be understandably focused on measures directly related to storm survival of our built environment from wind…

PHI airtightness maximums compared to current USA airtightness code requirements

Posted by NYPH , October 4, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, Passive House Institute, Technical

By Floris Keverling Buisman, reposted from  Four Seven Five It has been argued by many that the air-sealing requirements set by the Passivhaus Institute are too strict, unrealisticly low and thus too costly. However, the kind people on the other side of the Atlantic have shown that it is not hard to surpass these requirements by far, save both energy and prevent moisture and mold issues in walls. We are starting…

Blowerdoor protocol for verification of 0.6 ACH50 for Passive House

Posted by Andreas Benzing , July 21, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, Renewable Elements, Technical, Translucent Elements

By Floris Keverling Buisman,  Four Seven Five Automated blowerdoor test according to EN13829 with DG700 manometer controlled by laptop Building air-tightness that is below 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure (0.6ACH50) is a simple target that the Passive House Institute (PHI) requires for new building certification.  (A retrofit may meet 1.0ACH50 for EnerPHit certification.)  This is a measurement of air flow and not much input or calculations are required…. Just…