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…