The principles, benefits and retrofit strategies for achieving Passivhaus in a warm climate. Talk given by Andy Marlow at ATA Wollongong in July 2018

1. Passive House
Health
Comfort
EnerPHit
Wollongong ATA 2018
Andy Marlow

2. PROMOTE + SUPPORT + RESEARCH
www.passivehouseaustralia.org

4. What is a Passive House Building?

5. 60,000 + Certified Passive Houses Completed and
in Development in 33 countries
Certified Passive Houses

6. 9 Certified Projects
72 projects underway
Passive House in Australia
92 Certified Passive House Designers
68 Certified Passive House Tradespeople

7. …”a Passive House is a building in which
thermal comfort can be guaranteed solely by
heating and cooling of the supply air which is
required for sufficient indoor air quality –
without using additional recirculated air”

8. Designed to deliver an optimal indoor, energy
efficient environment with minimal input from
active systems

12. http://www.envirotecture.com.au/passive-solar-vs-passive-house-101/

13. R-value ~ to suit local climate
1. High level of
continuous insulation
Five key principles

14. 1. High level of
continuous insulation
2. Air tight construction
Five key principles

15. 1. High level of
continuous insulation
2. Air tight construction
3. Minimise thermal
bridges
Five key principles

16. 1. High level of
continuous insulation
2. Air tight construction
3. Minimise thermal
bridges
4. High performance
glazing
Five key principles

17. 1. High level of
continuous insulation
2. Air tight construction
3. Minimise thermal
bridges
4. High performance
glazing
5. Mechanical ventilation
with heat recovery
Five key principles

18. The PH Standard
Heating/cooling demand max. 15 kWh/m2/yr
OR
Heating/cooling load max. 10 W/m
Air tightness max. 0.6 ACH50
Primary Energy Renewable max. 60 kWh/m2/yr
Plus:
Thermal bridge-free
Comfort criteria

19. Health via Comfort
• Temperatures 20-25ºC
• Humidity control 30-70% RH
• 100% fresh air, 24/7
• No condensation + no mould
• No internal surface
temperatures < 16 degrees in
winter
• Internal window temperature
maximum 4 degrees deviation
from internal temperature

20. Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)
• Excel based energy simulation
tool
• Open source
• Over 20 years in development,
testing & upgrades
• Uses local climate data –
average temperatures in
design rather than peak
• Stress test for summer

21. Canberra house
• No cooling installed
• Heating via towel rail

22. EnerPHit
• Retrofit tool
• Staged function for gradual improvements
• Air tightness 1 ACH50
• Heating demand 20 kWh/m2/yr
• Cooling demand 20 kWh/m2/yr

23. Sydney climate

24. My Why…

25. Starting point
• 1917 construction
• Poor solar access
• 15 ACH50

26. Attic conversion

27. Attic conversion
• remove whirly birds
• existing roof sheets
• existing anticon
• existing structure
• 50mm K10
• air gap
• 50mm K10
• batten
• air tight membrane
• batten
• lining

28. The addition
• Building extended 1.8m
• Indoor bathroom

29. The addition
• Hempcrete walls
• Slab edge insulation
• Render as air tight layer
• Roof membrane
• R4.5 polyester
• 50mm PIR
• Air tight membrane
• Cavity
• Lining
• Assumed ACH 4
• MHRV installed

30. Fixing the old
• 25mm internal insulation
• Service cavity
• Lining
• Improve windows

31. Final result?

32. Open the windows…..
• Night ventilation 3 ACH

33. Location, location, location

34. Acoustics

35. AS2021

36. Warm climate Passive House
• Triple glazing not required
• Shading is critical
• Active cooling may be needed
• Yes, you can open windows (and it can help)
• Ceiling fans help
• Thermal mass may be useful
• Climate means minimal increase in insulation
over NCC/BASIX
• Makes poor sites viable
• Easier en masse

37. Thank you
Questions…