3 rd Annual North American Passive House Conference (via Las Vegas) Whole > Sum:Parts Report-back by Bronwyn Barry Quantum Builders For Sustainable Living, Inc.

Duluth - Gateway to the Great Lakes … And damn far away! www.quantumbuilder.com

Presentation Highlights Katrin Klingenberg - overview of progress Mike McCulley – original super-insulation pioneer: the Lo-Cal house Manfred Brausem – German PH architect with box of wonderful products, including Enersign windows Linda Wigington – 1000 Home Challenge Marc Rosenbaum – technical guru Chris Benedict and Henry Gifford – reducing real energy consumption in NY apartment buildings by 80% www.quantumbuilder.com

Katrin Klingenberg - overview of progress

Mike McCulley – original super-insulation pioneer: the Lo-Cal house

Manfred Brausem – German PH architect with box of wonderful products, including Enersign windows

Linda Wigington – 1000 Home Challenge

Marc Rosenbaum – technical guru

Chris Benedict and Henry Gifford – reducing real energy consumption in NY apartment buildings by 80%

Systems info: General disappointment with efficiencies of Geothermal from many attendees – too expensive and output not worth it. Air to air heat-pumps (by Japanese) have lowest energy cost but are hard to learn about (poor translations) Book recommendation: ‘Solar Hot Water Systems’ by Tom Lane Most architects recommended using the OSB layer as the air barrier layer, primarily on the inside. (Marc Rosenbaum made a case for using it on the outside, but this was considered a bit risky.) www.quantumbuilder.com

General disappointment with efficiencies of Geothermal from many attendees – too expensive and output not worth it.

Air to air heat-pumps (by Japanese) have lowest energy cost but are hard to learn about (poor translations)

Book recommendation: ‘Solar Hot Water Systems’ by Tom Lane

Most architects recommended using the OSB layer as the air barrier layer, primarily on the inside. (Marc Rosenbaum made a case for using it on the outside, but this was considered a bit risky.)

Cool ideas… PV panels should be installed to run the car, not the house! Check ‘sleep mode’ energy consumption for all appliances when purchasing Houses from 1800’s have correct window ratio’s for heat and natural lighting requirements Use SketchUp to model a house in 3-D and then model can be inserted on site with GoogleEarth to check solar shading www.quantumbuilder.com

PV panels should be installed to run the car, not the house!

Check ‘sleep mode’ energy consumption for all appliances when purchasing

Houses from 1800’s have correct window ratio’s for heat and natural lighting requirements

Use SketchUp to model a house in 3-D and then model can be inserted on site with GoogleEarth to check solar shading

Cool products… Penetration gaskets for wiring and plumbing (German only) Electric Heating foils – used to provide minimal back-up heating with thermostat controls (www.enerfoil.com) Glass rocks – underslab insulation (www.glapor.com) Thoroseal used to create air barrier at concrete areas ( www.thoroproducts.com ) and for OSB Enersign Doors and Windows ( www.quantumbuilder.com ) ERV – Ultimate Air Recouperator (www. ultimateair . com ) Plumbing air admit valve – reduces need for roof penetrations (www.studor.com) Crawlspace Vapor Barrier – 10 mm by Raven Industries (www.ravenind.com) www.quantumbuilder.com

Penetration gaskets for wiring and plumbing (German only)

Electric Heating foils – used to provide minimal back-up heating with thermostat controls (www.enerfoil.com)

Glass rocks – underslab insulation (www.glapor.com)

Thoroseal used to create air barrier at concrete areas ( www.thoroproducts.com ) and for OSB

Enersign Doors and Windows ( www.quantumbuilder.com )

ERV – Ultimate Air Recouperator (www. ultimateair . com )

Plumbing air admit valve – reduces need for roof penetrations (www.studor.com)

Crawlspace Vapor Barrier – 10 mm by Raven Industries (www.ravenind.com)

The home tour: 1 st Stop - Isabella Eco Home 2 hours north of Duluth (tundra!) Vacation home for Minneapolis couple 2,100 sf ‘loft’ Huge list of Green features Sand heat storage system Green roof Leed Platinum & PH certified www.quantumbuilder.com

2 hours north of Duluth (tundra!)

Vacation home for Minneapolis couple

2,100 sf ‘loft’

Huge list of Green features

Sand heat storage system

Green roof

Leed Platinum & PH certified

Closed cell foam at rim joists Blown-in dense pack cellulose in double frame walls Insane roof design! Details… Spray foam around steel beams and framing connectors www.quantumbuilder.com

Closed cell foam at rim joists

Blown-in dense pack cellulose in double frame walls

Insane roof design!

Spray foam around steel beams and framing connectors

Cool windows… German triple-pane, FSC certified, all-wood with compression seals www.quantumbuilder.com

German triple-pane, FSC certified, all-wood with compression seals

Efficient solar… (most of the time) www.quantumbuilder.com

But a gorgeous house… www.quantumbuilder.com

“ Oow, honey, what does that thing say-eh?” www.quantumbuilder.com

“ Only 2 degrees below right now –eh!” www.quantumbuilder.com

“ No, reealy-eh? Let me take a look at that!” www.quantumbuilder.com

2nd Stop: Duluth Skyline House 2,900 SF 3 bedroom single family with views over Lake Superior Solar hot water system for domestic and radiant floor heating Wood stove for back-up Geothermal ventilation air-tempering system! (?) Whole house HRV system for ventilation (Very complicated) www.quantumbuilder.com

2,900 SF 3 bedroom single family with views over Lake Superior

Solar hot water system for domestic and radiant floor heating

Wood stove for back-up

Geothermal ventilation air-tempering system! (?)

Whole house HRV system for ventilation

(Very complicated)

Very attractive internal thermal mass (heat-storing) wall inside stairs at south-facing windows Canadian-made insulated fiberglass triple-pane windows www.quantumbuilder.com

Very attractive internal thermal mass (heat-storing) wall inside stairs at south-facing windows

Canadian-made insulated fiberglass triple-pane windows

Did not meet PH standards, but came very close! Air leakage was downfall: 0.93 ACH at 50Pa. Close, but not a PH… www.quantumbuilder.com

Did not meet PH standards, but came very close!

Air leakage was downfall: 0.93 ACH at 50Pa.

Be glad you live in California! Thank you. www.quantumbuilder.com