Keynote for the 2015 North American Wood Window & Door Symposium, looking at the importance of windows to achieve high performance buildings.

1. High Performance Matters
How and why we need to change our
current window design for
Comfort, Health & Profit
Bronwyn Barry
Design Director - One Sky Homes
Co-President: Passive House California
Co-President: North American Passive House Network

2. Agenda
• How Windows can Change the World
• An Introduction to your Colleagues
• Inspiration Gallery

3. Herring Haus
(W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F)
Slab on Grd 0.178 32 0.03
Walls to Amb. 0.106 54 0.02
Wall to Grnd 0.179 32 0.03
Roof 0.057 100 0.01
Av. U-Window 0.99 6 0.17
Window Area (m2) 30 322 sf
Airtightness ACH 0.6

4. Climate & Location

5. What is our biggest Loser?

6. The following became constant:
• Window Area: 12m2
• Airtightness: 0.2 ach
What if we optimize this?
http://www.passivhaus.protolife.com

7. 0
0.5
1
Slab on Grd
Walls to
Amb. Wall to Grnd
Roof
Av. U-
Window
0.22
0.16 0.22
0.07
0.4
0.178
0.106 0.179
0.057
0.99
AFTER: (W/m2K) BEFORE: (W/m2K)
BEFORE: AFTER:
U R U U R U
(W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F) (W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F)
Slab on Grd 0.178 32 0.03 0.22 26 0.04
Walls to Amb. 0.106 54 0.02 0.16 35 0.03
Wall to Grnd 0.179 32 0.03 0.22 26 0.04
Roof 0.057 100 0.01 0.07 81 0.01
Av. U-Window 0.99 6 0.17 0.4 14 0.07
Window Area (m2) 30 322 sf 12 129 sf
Airtightness ACH 0.6 0.2
Windows are our BEST opportunity!

8. BEFORE: AFTER:
U R U U R U
(W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F) (W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F)
Slab on Grd 0.178 32 0.03 0.22 26 0.04
Walls to Amb. 0.106 54 0.02 0.16 35 0.03
Wall to Grnd 0.179 32 0.03 0.22 26 0.04
Roof 0.057 100 0.01 0.07 81 0.01
Av. U-Window 0.99 6 0.17 0.4 14 0.07
Window Area (m2) 30 322 sf 12 129 sf
Airtightness ACH 0.6 0.2
And offer a complex set of choices!
# Units Total Area Htg Dmd
m2 W/m2a (BTU/hr.ft2.°F) kWh/m2a
0.99 0.17 40
0.45 0.08 31
0.99 0.17 37
0.45 0.08 25
Before
Optimized
19 30.45
13.028
Av. U-w
U-Window & Total Area Comparison
But is this
possible?

9. Can Herring Haus Meet the Passive
House Standard?

10. Only if we have better Windows!
AFTER:
Slab on Grd
Walls to Amb.
Wall to Grnd
Roof
Av. U-Window
Window Area (m2)
Airtightness ACH
U R U
(W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F)
0.22 26 0.04
0.16 35 0.03
0.22 26 0.04
0.07 81 0.01
0.4 14 0.07
12 129 sf
0.2

11. Evolution of a Passive House
Window:
Pazen ENERsign
bf: 100 mm
Uw,: 0,68 W/(m²K)
Ψopak: 0,106 W/(mK)
Efficiency class : phA
Pazen: ENERsignPlus
bf: 94 mm
UW,: 0,65 W/(m²K)
Ψopak: 0,02 W/(mK)
Efficiency class : phA
Winter ewitherm
bf: 154/169 mm
UW,: 0,77 W/(m²K)
Ψopak: 0,170 W/(mK)
Efficiency class: phC
Pazen: Arctis
bf: 94/94 mm
UW,: 0,45 W/(m²K)
Ψopak: 0,08 W/(mK)
Efficiency class : phA
• Frames went from tall to wide
• Performance improved with less frame

12. Source: ARCHnews Green Column, June 2009. Dan Johnson, danjoh99@gmail.com
• Can it Drip?
• Will it Drain?
• Can you set it back
into the wall?
Looking from our Perspective

13. Psi Spacer Htg Dmd
W/mK W/m2a (BTU/hr.ft2.°F) kWh/m2a
0.04 0.97 0.17 40
0.03 0.95 0.17 39
0.025 0.93 0.16 39
0.022 0.93 0.16 39
Psi-Spacer Comparison
TGI
Thermix
Swiss Spacer V
Av. U-w
Super Spacer Triseal
What if we changed the Spacer?

14. Never Mind Exterior Water…
Mould Perfect
Spacer: aluminium Stainless steel Plastic
Condensate
Illustration © PHI
Condensate
Illustration © PHI Illustration © PHI Illustration © PHI
Condensate
Illustration © PHI
-10°C 20°C,
14°F 68 °F
50%rh
Manage your interior condensation for:
Durability
Health

15. θmin=14.93 °C
Ψe = 0.019 W/(mK)
θmin=14.93 °C
Ψe = 0.018 W/(mK)
Uw,installed = 0.86 W/(m²K)
θmin=15.05 °C
Ψe = 0.010 W/(mK)
θmin=15.02 °C
Ψe = 0.017 W/(mK)
Uw,installed = 0.84 W/(m²K)
θmin=15.15 °C
Ψe = 0.123 W/(mK)
θmin=15.09 °C
Ψe = 0.204 W/(mK)
Uw,installed = 1.22 W/(m²K)
Location, location, location!
Manage your location for:
Performance
Durability
Health

16. Consider the ‘Halfie’
(the mid-wall installation)
Psi Install Htg Dmd
W/mK W/m2a (BTU/hr.ft2.°F) kWh/m2a
0.019 0.9 0.16 39
0.01 0.87 0.15 38
0.123 1.24 0.22 45
Psi-Installation Comparison
Av. U-w
Outside edge
Middle of Wall
Interior Wall Install
θmin=15.05 °C
Ψe = 0.010 W/(mK)
θmin=15.02 °C
Ψe = 0.017 W/(mK)
Uw,installed = 0.84 W/(m²K)

17. http://www.degruyter.com/view/product/429524?format=EBOK
Be cautious with Interior Insulation!

18. Historic Renovations are Still Possible
Model carefully to eliminate potential cold surfaces

19. What windows am I using?
First Net Zero Energy new home in California

20. How’s are they performing?
http://oneskyhomes.com/about/presentations/cottle-zne-home-measures-plus-energy-performance
Local vs Imports show up on the thermal camera…

21. Retrofit in Sunnyvale, CA
Passive House is the perfect target for retrofits…

22. Remove the Nailing Flange
Saving the siding from future removal
Creating better drainage at the Sill

23. Uw,e 0,85
Requirements for windows
Climate region Hygiene criterion
fRsi =0,25 m²K/W ≥
UW
[W/(m²K)]
UW,installed
[W/(m²K)]
Glazing
Arctic 0.80 0.40 0,07 0.45 0,08 Quadruple/Vacuum
Cold 0.75 0.60 0,106 0.65 0,114 Triple/Quadruple
Cool, temperate 0.70 0.80 0,14 0.85 0,15 Triple
Warm, temperate 0.65 1.00 0,176 1.05 0,185 Double/Triple
Warm 0.55 1.20 0,21 1.25 0,22 Double
Hot 0.55 1.20 0,21 1.25 0,22 Double anti sun
Very hot 0.65 1.00 0,176 1.05 0,185 Triple anti sun
UW,installed ≤
1.05 W/(m²K)
0.85 W/(m²K)
1.05 W/(m²K)
UW,installed ≤
0.65 W/(m²K)
UW,installed ≤ 0.45
W/(m²K)
UW,installed ≤
1.25 W/(m²K)
0,22 BTU/(hft²F)
What performance level does
North America need?

24. Design temperature θa for fRsi:
minimum average temperature over several days
Maximum water activity: aW ≤ 0.80
Water activity higher than 0.80 can lead to mold
growth. To prevent mold growth, the minimum
temperature of inner surfaces must be higher
than 12.6 °C, when rHi is 50%.
The lower the designed for ambient temperature
(θa), the more is required of the exterior
envelope.
The temperature factor fRsi [-] is a good indicator
for the hygiene criterion. To prevent mold
growth, fRsi must increase with decreasing
temperature
fRsi =
qsi -qa
qi -qa
Source: With Permission from the Passive House Institute
θi = 20°C
68°F
danger of
mold growth
mold growth free
LA 0.51
Washington
0.70
Minneapolis
0.75
Winnipeg 0.79
Design temperature θa for fRsi:
minimum average temperature over several days
Low U-value is not enough…

25. Comfort is KING (of sales)
Minimum temperature of inner
surfaces: θsi ≥ θop -4,2 K
Due to comfort, this criterion limits the
minimum average temperature of the
surface of a building component.
Minimum surface temperature can
deviate from average operative room
temperature by a maximum of
4.2 Kelvin. A larger difference can lead
to cold air drafts and radiant heat loss.
This criterion defines the maximum
thermal transmittance coefficient of a
building component:
)(/²
2,4
KKWKmR
K
U
aopsi  

RSi =0.13 m²K/W, θop = 22°C
0,738 hft²/(BTU) 71,6°F
Los Angeles 1.35
W/(m²K) 0,238
BTU/(hft²F)
Washington 0.85 W/(m²k)
0,15 BTU/(hft²F)
Minneapolis 0.67 W/(m²K)
0,118 BTU/(hft²F)
Winnipeg 0.60 W/(m²K)
0,106 BTU/(hft²F)
Mexico-City 2,0 W/(m²K)
0,35 BTU/(hft²F)
(min.12hmeanvalue)
[°C]
Information on
different climates

26. Radiator to balance low
surface temperatures
and to stop the cold- air
No radiator necessary, if surface temperature is not more
than 4.2 K below the operative room temperature
The Passive House Standard
is defined by thermal comfort!
“A Passive House is a building, for which thermal comfort (ISO 7730) can be achieved solely by post-
heating or post-cooling of the fresh air mass, which is required to achieve sufficient indoor air quality
conditions – without the need for additional recirculation of air.”

27. The SmartWin Co-operative
Founded by Franz Freundorfer
Fourteen small producers operating across EU

28. SmartWin Historical
Passive House Window renovation for a
600 year old building

29. http://www.passiv.de/komponentendatenbank/files/pdf/zertifikate/zd_propassivhausfenster_smartwin-historic_en.pdf
SmartWin Historic: U-window
= 0.7 W/m2K

30. SmartWin Phased Retrofit Profile
Designed for the Building to be insulated later…

31. SmartWin Arctic: U-window
= 0.6 W/m2K
http://www.passiv.de/komponentendatenbank/files/pdf/zertifikate/zd_propassivhausfenster_smartwin-arctic_en.pdf

32. Optiwin – the other Cooperative
Passive House Windows
from Ireland to Austria
(and coming soon to North America?)

33. Optiwin LIGNUMA: U-window
= 0.79 W/m2K
http://www.passiv.de/komponentendatenbank/files/pdf/zertifikate/zd_optiwin_lignuma_en.pdf

34. The Innovator behind ENERsign
Günter Pazen has been designing Passive House windows for 25 Years!

35. Pazen Arctis: U-window
= 0.6 W/m2K
http://www.passiv.de/komponentendatenbank/files/pdf/zertifikate/zd_pazen_enersign-arctis-stern_en.pdf

36. Synergist, California (Making it Local!)
Source: www.synergistwindows.com

37. Synergist Window: U-window
= 0.79 W/m2K
http://www.passiv.de/komponentendatenbank/files/pdf/zertifikate/zd_casagrande_synergist_en.pdf

38. Fat moves in Thinner Frames…
Image 1: SmartWin(Propassivhausfenster.net) 2.Enersign.de, Image 3: passivehausfenster.at , Image 4: walchfenster.at
Good Frame Design Includes:
• Strength
• Durability
• Insulation,
• Drainage
• and various options for installation.

39. Big Moves in Thin Glass
Maximum total gas gap: 36 mm; minimum emissivity: 3 %
Beyond state of the art:
• Anti dew (hard)-coating on the outside
• Vacuum glazing
• Multi-foil glazing
Requirement
Ug [W/(m²k)] Ug [W/(m²k)] g [-] Ug [W/(m²k)] g [-]
cool-temperate 0,75 0,52 0,28
cold 0,55 0,55 0,28
arctic 0,35 0,58 0,29
By the use of low-iron-glass 2% better g-values
Glazing:
State of the art
Region
2 * 18 mm 90% Argon
2 * low-e-coating (3%)
3 * 12 mm 90% Krypton
3 * low-e-coating (3%)
0,50 0,46
0,75 W/(m²K)=0,132 BTU/(hft²F)
0,55W/(m²K)=0,1 BTU/(hft²F)
0,35W/(m²K)=0,06 BTU/(hft²F)
0,52 0,29

40. Crystal Ball Gazing…
Super Performance from Thin Film
Source: SuperWindows.eu
Invis 160 = Ug 0.15 W/m2K
U R U
(W/m2
K) (hr.ft2
.°F/BTU) (BTU/hr.ft2
.°F)
0.15 38 0.03

41. Frame Venting and Corner Glazing…
Source: Presenters own images from International Passive House Conference, Germany

42. Blast from the Past
Source: Presenters own images from Aachen, Germany

43. Resources to Learn More:
Passive House Institute
www.passivehouse.com
North American Passive House
Network
www.naphnetwork.org
http://naphn15.canphi.ca/

44. Customers of the Future:

45. Bronwyn Barry
Design Director - One Sky Homes
Co-President: Passive House California
Co-President: North American Passive House Network
Thank You!