This slideshow was given by Tim Delhey Eian at the 2012 Passive House Conference in Denver, CO. The topic is 2-years of active monitoring of the Passive House in the Woods in Hudson, WI, designed by TE Studio. The slideshow contains a lot of full-screen images but no subtitles, therefore omitting some of the information which would have been given verbally during the presentation.

1. 7th Annual North American Passive House Conference
September 27-30, 2012 Denver CO
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
PASSIVE HOUSE IN THE WOODS
© TE Studio, Ltd.

2. LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
PASSIVE HOUSE IN THE WOODS
2 Years Active Monitoring Of A Passive House
•The Monitoring System
•Feedback Loop
•Measuring Heating Energy
•Active Cooling?
•Impact Of Auxiliary Energy
•Household Electricity
•Summary & Conclusion
© TE Studio, Ltd.

3. Welcome, Gary Not Gary? Settings | Support | Log Out
Status: Current use: 0.25 kW | $0/hr Outside Temp: 60°F
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eMonitor Channel Configuration: Main + Subpanel Rename Serial Number: EM1A1 004313 294A
( Power Direction Calibration)
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In Breaker Double Breaker CT Sensor Type Two
Circuit Label Appliance Type Ch#
Use? Number Breaker? Size (A) 20A 50A 150A CTs?
✔ Main Power Mains ✔ ✔ 1
✔ Main Power Mains ✔ ✔ 2
S1, 3 ✔ 15 Backup E-Resistance Other - not on list ✔ 3
Heater
M14 20 Outlets: Living Room Outlets ✔ 4
S5, 7 ✔ 15 Heat Main Level Electric Heat - Radiant ✔ 5
S9 15 Ventilator, Earthloop & Ventilator ✔ 6
Light
S11 15 Refrigerator Refrigerator (Primary) ✔ 7
THE MONITORING SYSTEM
S2, 4
S6, 8
✔
✔
15
15
Heat Upper Level
Heat Basement
Electric Heat - Radiant
Electric Heat - Radiant
✔
✔
8
9
S10 15 Motorized Blinds Other - not on list ✔ 10
M1,3,5,7 ✔ 50 Domestic Hot Water Water Heater - Electric ✔ ✔ 11
Heater
M1,3,5,7 ✔ 50 Domestic Hot Water Water Heater - Electric ✔ ✔ 12
Heater
M9, 11 ✔ 40 Oven Oven/Range - Electric ✔ ✔ 13
M9, 11 ✔ 40 Oven Oven/Range - Electric ✔ ✔ 14
M13, 15 ✔ 30 Washer & Dryer Dryer - Electric ✔ ✔ 15
M13, 15 ✔ 30 Washer & Dryer Dryer - Electric ✔ ✔ 16
M17, 19 ✔ 30 Cooktop Cooktop - Electric ✔ ✔ 17
M17, 19 ✔ 30 Cooktop Cooktop - Electric ✔ ✔ 18
M21 15 Lights: Study Lighting ✔ 19
M23 15 Outlets: Master Outlets ✔ 20
Bedroom
M25 15 Lights: Family Room & Lighting ✔ 21
Bsmt Hall
M27 15 Outlets: Family Room Outlets ✔ 22
M29 20 Lights: Bsmt Bath & Lighting ✔ 23
Hobby
M31 20 Dishwasher Dishwasher ✔ 24
©2012 Powerhouse Dynamics. All rights reserved.
The name eMonitor and the eMonitor logo are trademarks of Powerhouse Dynamics.
Terms of Service
© TE Studio, Ltd.

4. Equipment
© TE Studio, Ltd.

5. © TE Studio, Ltd.

6. THE FEEDBACK LOOP
© TE Studio, Ltd.

7. Consumer: Site (with house)
PHPP(House): 4,075 kWh/ a
Measured(Site): 6,425 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

8. Producer: PV System
Capacity(Manf): 7,600 kWh/ a
Measured: 6,700 kWh/ a
Difference: -900 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

9. MEASURING HEATING ENERGY
© TE Studio, Ltd.

10. Feedback - Dead of Winter
“Yesterday it was 5 degrees (F) for a high temperature
outside. My house was 76 degrees air temperature
inside at 5:00 pm, while the granite counters were at
least 80 to 90 degrees. It was down right near tropical.
What a performance the house is providing.”
Gary Konkol, owner
February 8, 2011: Sunny, Low -11F, high 5F
© TE Studio, Ltd.

11. © TE Studio, Ltd.

12. © TE Studio, Ltd.

13. © TE Studio, Ltd.

14. © TE Studio, Ltd.

15. Heating a
Passive House
20%
16%
64%
Solar Heat Gains = 6,054 kWh/ a
Internal Heat Gains = 1,457 kWh/ a
Active Heating = 1,842 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

16. Case 1: “Bad” Winter (2010-11)
© TE Studio, Ltd.

17. 140%
132
120%
100% PHPP
93
80%
80
60%
40%
20% Heating degree hours
Solar insolation
Occupant behavior
0%
Winter 2010-11
Solar insolation data received from Minnesota State Climatology Office; Heating degree hours from Degreedays.net
© TE Studio, Ltd.

18. 1500 kWh
1350 kWh
1200 kWh
1050 kWh
900 kWh
750 kWh
600 kWh
450 kWh
300 kWh
PHPP
150 kWh PHPP normalized
Winter 2010-11
0 kWh
November December January February March
© TE Studio, Ltd.

19. Feedback - Swing Season
“Interior temperature update. After several mostly
cloudy days, this morning the temperature in my house
was 58 degrees. Even with the slight overcast of thin
clouds today, the temperature is approaching 70 and
rising. It is very comfortable.”
Gary Konkol, owner
March 24, 2011: Low 11F, high 31F
© TE Studio, Ltd.

20. © TE Studio, Ltd.

21. Case 2: “Average” Winter (2011-12)
© TE Studio, Ltd.

22. 160%
155
140%
120%
100%
100
PHPP
92
80%
60%
40%
Heating degree hours
20%
Solar insolation
Occupant behavior
0%
Winter 2011-12
Solar insolation data received from Minnesota State Climatology Office; Heating degree hours from Degreedays.net
© TE Studio, Ltd.

23. 1500 kWh
1350 kWh
1200 kWh
1050 kWh
900 kWh
750 kWh
600 kWh
450 kWh
300 kWh
PHPP
150 kWh PHPP normalized
Winter 2010-11
0 kWh
November December January February March
© TE Studio, Ltd.

24. 4000 kWh
3500 kWh
3437
3000 kWh
2836
2500 kWh 2637
2000 kWh
1819 1819
1500 kWh 1681
1000 kWh
500 kWh PHPP
PHPP normalized
Measured
0 kWh
Winter 2010-11 Winter 2011-12
© TE Studio, Ltd.

25. ACTIVE COOLING?
© TE Studio, Ltd.

26. © TE Studio, Ltd.

27. © TE Studio, Ltd.

28. © TE Studio, Ltd.

29. © TE Studio, Ltd.

30. Feedback - Summer Heatwave
“Yesterday, despite the heat, my house was quite
comfortable. This AM it was 76 degrees on the main
floor, a bit warm, but very tolerable. I look forward to
Thursday's cool off to ventilate the house overnight
with open windows. It really ventilates well.”
Gary Konkol, owner
June 7, 2011: High 95F with a 67F dew point
© TE Studio, Ltd.

31. © TE Studio, Ltd.

32. AUXILIARY ENERGY
© TE Studio, Ltd.

33. Producer: Solar thermal system
Capacity(Manf): 5,800 kBTU/ yr [1,700 kWh/ a]
Measured: -
© TE Studio, Ltd.

34. Consumer: Electric on-demand DHW heater
PHPP: 260 kWh/ a
Measured: 70 kWh/ a
Difference: -190 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

35. Consumer: Ventilation system
PHPP: 450 kWh/ a
Measured: 900 kWh/ a
Difference: 450 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

36. Issue 1: Clogged filters
Impact: +120% Load
Solution: Diligence
115W
95W
© TE Studio, Ltd.

37. Issue 2: Improper commissioning
Impact: 560 kWh/ a
Solution: Re-commissioning
© TE Studio, Ltd.

38. Consumer: Well pump
PHPP: -
Measured: 500 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

39. Consumer: Water filtration
PHPP: -
Measured: 200 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

40. Consumer: Other Auxiliary
e-Monitor, PV tracker, motorized blinds
PHPP: -
Measured: 110 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

41. HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY
© TE Studio, Ltd.

42. © TE Studio, Ltd.

43. “Hey Tim,
This is funny. I had a problem with a frozen Humus
package falling behind the lower freezer door preventing
me from closing the door. I wasn't able to retrieve it nor
determine how to remove the freezer door to retrieve the
obstructing food item. I called the Liebherr customer
service center and they provided me with guidance to
remove the upper freezer door to reach the Humus and
thus I was able to restore the doors to their closed
position. Meanwhile, I was baking a pizza. I had a
feeling that I was going to mess up my house's energy
usage for today.
It's nice to know that I have friends watching out for me.”
© TE Studio, Ltd.

44. "tim@testudio.com" <tim@testudio.com>
Alert courtesy of Energy Circle
Hi Gary,
Your Oven used 26% more energy over the past 30 days than it did for the same period ending 298 days ago. If there are no obvious reasons for this change, it
could indicate a problem is developing with this appliance.
'Oven' Circuit Summary
Cost for last 30 days: $0
Carbon for last 30 days: 4 lbs
Click here to log in to the eMonitor Dashboard to view this circuit, see all of your electricity usage and costs, or update your alert
settings.
Regards,
eMonitor Support
Energy Circle
© 2010 Powerhouse Dynamics, Inc. All rights reserved.
The name eMonitor and the eMonitor logo are trademarks of Powerhouse Dynamics, Inc.
© TE Studio, Ltd.

45. Consumer: Lighting
PHPP: 135 kWh/ a
Measured: 335 kWh/ a
Difference: 200 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

46. 400 kWh/ yr
336
300 kWh/ yr 317
200 kWh/ yr
135
100 kWh/ yr
PHPP (Design 2 people)
PHPP Verification
Measured
0 kWh/ yr
Lighting
© TE Studio, Ltd.

47. 1000 kWh/ yr
997
750 kWh/ yr
704
500 kWh/ yr
442
250 kWh/ yr
PHPP (Design 2 people)
188 PHPP Verification
Measured
Measured w/o spikes
0 kWh/ yr
Plugloads
© TE Studio, Ltd.

48. Consumer: Appliances
PHPP: 1,125 kWh/ a
Measured: 750 kWh/ a
Difference: - 375 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

49. SUMMARY
© TE Studio, Ltd.

50. 8000 kWh/ a PHPP(House): 25 kWh/(m2 a)
Measured(Site): 39 kWh/(m2 a)
7000 kWh/ a
Outlook(Site): 30 kWh/(m2 a)
Production: 45 kWh/ (m2 a)
6000 kWh/ a
5000 kWh/ a
PV
4000 kWh/ a
Other aux.
Well pump & Filtration
3000 kWh/ a
Ventilator/ Earthloop
DHW
2000 kWh/ a
Plugloads
Lighting
1000 kWh/ a
Appliances
Heating
0 kWh/ a
PHPP Measured Outlook Production
Average Wisconsin home (CERTS) 30,250 kWh/ a
© TE Studio, Ltd.

51. Thank you!
testudio.com
passivehouseinthewoods.com
© TE Studio, Ltd.