17th Annual International Passive House Conference

Posted by NYPH , February 12, 2013 - Events, Passive House Institute

Greg Duncan is a Certified Passive House Designer and principal of Gregory Duncan Architect     UPDATE: Early registration discounts extended to March 1 Early registration discounts for the International Passive House Conference in Frankfurt end February 15 March 1, 2013. New York Passive House members at the professional level get additional discounts through our affiliation with the International Passive House Association (iPHA). Click here to become a member of NYPH.…

How three light bulbs help keep my house 72 degrees

Posted by Andreas Benzing , January 29, 2013 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, Technical

How three light bulbs help keep my house 72 degrees  By Doug Mcdonald, NYPH Member It has been cold in January up here in New England. A cold snap moved into the northeastern US, and through it all the interior temperature was maintained at 72 degrees without any active heating - with the notable exception of my tiniest of supplemental heaters, items one doesn't think typically of as heaters at all.  …

International Passive House Open Days 2012

Posted by Andreas Benzing , November 18, 2012 - Events, Passive House Institute, Technical

We opened our Mamaroneck Passive House to the public all day Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November and had an incredible turn out. Close to 200 people diverted from their week- end routine to come and visit our construction site and see the finished skeleton of the house only waiting for siding outside and for blown in cellulose and Sheetrock inside. Contractors, engineers, realtors, students, manufacturers, the French American School Board…

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…

Certified Tradesperson Training in NYC

Posted by NYPH , August 30, 2012 - Events

Certified Passive House Tradesperson Training starts again the AEA Passive House Lab in New York City September 17th.  This five day course provides ideal training for contractors undertaking Passive House level projects and provides them with a Certified Passive House Tradesperson credential issued by the Passive House Institute if successfully completed.   The course offers not only the theory of Passive House methodology but hands-on air tightness and thermal bridge free construction experience in the building…

PHPP Multi-Zone Manager

Posted by Andreas Benzing , August 16, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, Technical

David White of Right Environments and Cramer Silkworth of Baukraft Engineering have recently released their "PHPP Multi-Zone Manager" to the public. The tool, an Excel spreadsheet and macro, helps coordinate multiple PHPP models for a multiple-zone building or multiple variations on a building for parametric modeling. By centralizing the variable inputs and referencing just one "template" PHPP, you can quickly develop and control multiple models from one place.   From the documentation:…

TWO CHANCES TO WIN the new 2012 PHPP!

Posted by Andreas Benzing , August 2, 2012 - Technical

TWO CHANCES TO WIN the new 2012 PHPP!   The American Passive House Network would like to support and encourage designers to show and share their work with other designers. To build more Passive Houses, designers should have the best tools available and often those new tools are created in our own community. How can we help potential clients choose to build Passive Houses? The success rate of building Passive…

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…

Lessons Learned from the Orient Artist Studio

Posted by Andreas Benzing , July 14, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, News, Technical

By David White, Right Environments. I was very fortunate to work with Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects and Manuele Contracting on the newly Passivhaus certified artist studio in Orient, Long Island, NY. I'd like to share what I hope will be useful reflections.   The Orient climate is very similar to New York City in terms of temperatures and solar radiation. The studio is in a wooded area with moderate Southern exposure,…

First annual NYPH Symposium 2012

Posted by Andreas Benzing , June 23, 2012 - Events, General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, News

This June NYPH hosted its first annual symposium and here's what people have been saying: "a day filled with loads of great projects and innovative people," "great presentations and networking," "great energy."  Over 100 people attended, there were 12 component vendors and 17 presentations.  Two Certified Passive House Plaques were presented.  Shown the awe inspiring work of cities like Brussels and Frankfurt, NYC was challenged to build 2 million square feet of…