Developing and designing a passive house is a process that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy costs. However, a few things to remember when building a new home or renovating.
Balgowlah
Getting a house built using CLT is no longer a pipe dream. It is becoming a reality in Sydney. The technology is being applied to office towers as well as residential construction. You can’t beat the eco-friendly properties of this timber. Besides the novelty factor, it’s also the cheapest way to get a home constructed to green building standards.
Betti & Knut Architecture presented at the South Pacific Passive House Conference of 2020 about using CLT in a home. The results are a two-storey addition to an existing pre-war home in Balgowlah, including a kitchen and dining room on the ground floor and a lounge area upstairs. It’s all made of cross-laminated timber panels installed offsite daily. It’s also one of only 25 passive houses in Australia.
The best part about this house is that it will be sustainable for years. The technology used was a ‘Model-C’ system developed by Generate and Placetailor. These companies have a lot of experience in this arena. So using a material with a low carbon footprint and high thermal resistance was a no-brainer.
The CLT Passive House is the first of its kind in Australia. The CLT’s lightweight and high thermal resistance allow for cantilevers and elevation, resulting in a highly airtight and energy-efficient home. A smart choice for a family that’s been sickened by asthma.
This house is one of the best examples of what’s possible when you put a green building vision in the hands of an expert. The CLT Passive House’s most minor – but most impressive – achievements include an innovative design method, a small solar panel mounted on the roof, and an eye-catching facade made from local untreated Blackbutt timber battens. It is also the shortest erection of its kind in the country. It is listed in the world‘s most extensive database of passive houses and was the subject of a famous article in the Sydney Morning Herald. It has also been shortlisted in the Housing Energy Efficiency category of the MBA Excellence in Housing Awards.
201 Hampden
201 Hampden is Boston’s first entire cross-laminated timber building (CLT), which is still a relatively new building material. The CLT will turn the building into a carbon sink. It is also a Passive House-certified building, which operates at a net-zero carbon level.
The project was developed by Placetailor, a development cooperative based in Boston. The cooperative worked with a Massachusetts Institute of Technology startup, Generate Technologies, to build the building. It is scheduled to be built in Dudley Square in 2022.
The design team had to meet the minimum energy requirements to achieve the Passive House certification. This was achieved through robust system assumptions and an updated architectural drawing set model. In addition, a few minor changes were made to the assembly R-values.
The 201 Hampden team uses reclaimed eastern hemlock, which was recently affected by blight. This type of wood is better than light-gauge metal and masonry. As a result, the exterior panels have excellent thermal insulation and low heat conductivity. They are also designed with a wood-grain texture that emits no dangerous levels of volatile organic compounds.
This project will include a rooftop canopy, which allows solar panels to be mounted. The project was designed to meet the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development Zero Emissions Standards. The building will include 14 market-rate units. The design also provides co-working space on the ground floor.
The project is being built by a development firm specializing in high-performance assemblies. They will incorporate the triple bottom line concept to capture the benefits of using CLT. The triple bottom line is that a product and the world, people and profitability are more than just the materials used in its construction. This includes using a sustainable source of wood and the building’s performance and economic impacts.
The 201 Hampden project will also be designed to reduce waste. Prefabricated modules will be used to create the building. This will reduce construction schedules, as well as garbage. It will also help to maximize an irregular urban lot.
As part of the project, the CPHC will continue to develop the Passive House envelope design. They will also work closely with the architect and the contractor to create a customized energy reduction target for the 201 Hampden location.
Westbay
Designed by Battersby Howat Architects, West Bay Passive House is a single family home on West Vancouver’s waterfront. It features a passive solar design, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and high-performance mechanical systems. In addition, the home is certified as a Passive House Plus (PHP) by the Energuide rating system.
The project’s mechanical system combines a next-generation energy recovery ventilation system with hydronic heating in the air supply. The home also utilizes air-source heat pumps. It is the first Passive House certified in West Vancouver.
The project’s envelope has significant thermal mass, including 48 roofs. In addition, its structural CLT superstructure was factory prefabricated, reducing construction time and waste.
The envelope of the home is insulated with highly recycled mineral wool insulation. Triple-glazed glass minimizes heat loss. It also incorporates a Passive House-certified cat door and wine cellar.
The home has a living area, a wood-burning fireplace, and a steel and concrete hearth. There are custom bathrooms with white oak cabinets. A large screened-in porch sweeps from the west side of the home, and a 22-foot window floods the living area with natural light. The home also features vertical wood screening, a fireplace, and a steel and wood staircase.
The home is equipped with a dedicated charging station for two electric vehicles. It also includes storage for bicycles. It is positioned along a bike path. The project team educated the community about the project, and tradespeople were recruited to help.
The project is an excellent example of sustainable architecture. It has been constructed to last 100 years. Its materials ensure long-term aesthetic value.
It is also the city’s first net zero energy passive house. It is a 4,100-square-foot dwelling that generates more energy than it uses. It also includes a rooftop solar photovoltaic array. A south-facing courtyard garden surrounds it. Its windows are carefully placed, and the home is built to take full advantage of the panoramic ocean view.
The home is the result of a joint venture between Lauten Woodworking and Naikoon Contracting Ltd. The house was awarded Best in Class by the Western Canada Wood Awards.
OPAL Architecture, Research, and Design
Founded in 2008 by Matthew O’Malia, OPAL Architecture, Research, and Design is a Maine-based firm devoted to sustainable architecture. OPAL works with institutional clients to help them achieve their sustainable design goals. Their projects range from single-family homes to multifamily communities. Their expertise includes Passive House design. During their design process, OPAL carefully examines budgets, materials, and aesthetics to ensure that the client’s goals are met.
OPAL’s approach to Passive House design is based on three fundamental principles. The first is to reduce the number of fossil fuels used in building construction. The second is to use natural materials that create comfortable indoor environments. The third is to integrate renewable energy sources into the building. The company believes that all projects can integrate high-performance and quality design.
OPAL’s design and construction processes are based on over a decade of research. The firm’s “OPAL Build” system provides a seamless solution to all scales of applications and cuts project labour by 50 per cent. The core of the OPAL Build system is a composite panel composed of cross-laminated timber and wood fibre insulation. It is fabricated using precision tools and CNC technology. The boards are shipped to the construction site and installed in just days. The result is a highly energy-efficient building.
OPAL’s design team focuses on various projects, including a high-end single-family home in New Hampshire and a sizeable multifamily housing development in Boston. Their buildings are carefully detailed for durability and efficiency. In addition to being energy-efficient, they are also beautiful.
OPAL’s “Model-C” building system results from a collaborative effort between MIT startup Generate and Boston-based Placetailor. The demonstration project is a mid-rise multifamily housing development that meets ambitious sustainable development goals. It houses 14 residential units and a co-working space. It is also the first entire cross-laminated timber building in Boston. In addition, the building is certified Passive House.
The “Model-C” demonstration project is an example of how the design of a building can be optimized for high performance. The building is a hybrid retrofit building. The CLT structure is encased in rigid wood-fibre insulation boards and is sheathed in prefinished ash siding.