I was approached by a software company in late 2014, asking me whether their Predictive Design Technology algorithms would be useful for Passive House design optimization. I'd seen so many Passive House projects (my own included) that had missed easy opportunities to optimize for comfort, cost and performance that I jumped at the offer. This presentation is an introduction to the software service we have developed. I look forward to hearing from the greater Passive House community about how this helps you to better explore your Passive House projects.

1. Why the need for optimization?
What is PDT-Passivhaus?
How best to use it?
Optimizing Passive House Design
Introducing PDT-Passivhaus
passivhaus.protolife.com

2. • The PHPP spreadsheet is
intimidating
• Variable exploration requires tedious
manual labor or complex macro
programming skills
• No current habit of optimization
exists
• Opportunities to meet the Passive
House Standard are being missed
Why the need for Optimization?
passivhaus.protolife.com

3. PDT-Passivhaus offers a user-friendly,
affordable and graphic service to
Passive House consultants, using
Predictive Design Technology.
It allows users to explore thousands of
variables to easily optimize their
Passive House Building to maximize
design, price and performance. This
increases your consulting value.
What is PDT-Passivhaus?
passivhaus.protolife.com

4. User-Friendly Features
We’ve already identified the key design and
performance variables for you. All you need to do
is define their parameters.
Our service eliminates the need for advanced Excel
programing. Our service will not modify or corrupt
your original PHPP workbook, but allows users to
choose their own solutions from the solutions
offered by PDT-Passivhaus.
• Curated Options
• For Beginner or Advanced Users

5. Affordable & Fast
A fifteen minute full-optimization run of
PDT-Passivhaus can explore thousands of
options available to you or your clients.
This is much faster and more
comprehensive than any expert PHPP
user – even those with specialized Excel
programming skills. This will save hours of
expensive consulting and design service
time.
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322.5
400
15.2
26.4
70
200
0.825
0.96
66
198
0.15
0.9
8.285
12.964
TreatedFloorAreaforAnnual...1
WindowSurfaceArea
WalltoAmbientSurfaceArea
HRV/ERVRecovery%Efficiency
ThermalMassBenefit
Airtightnessbenefit
SpecificSpaceHeatingDemand
variable
value
Full optimization, top 1 − 20 results
• Fifteen Minutes
• Reduces Consulting Time
passivhaus.protolife.com

6. Graphic Outputs
PDT-Passivhaus generates
results in two graphic
formats that are more
easily interpreted by clients
and design professionals.
• Outputs are
downloadable
• in visual or numerical
formats.
passivhaus.protolife.com

7. 7 passivhaus.protolife.com
A Demonstration Project
Let’s explore a small project in a challenging climate…

8. 8
Climate and Location: Saskatoon
passivhaus.protolife.com

9. 9
Initial PHPP Results & Assemblies
The metric PHPP results
shown above, and assemblies
shown at right are
prior to optimization.
Assemblies chart: metric in
red and IP units in white.
passivhaus.protolife.com

10. Find the PHPP Energy Balance Graph
Find this graph in your PHPP
(Usually on the Annual
Heating Sheet)
Review to identify which items
in your project are
losing the most energy?
For this project they are:
1. Windows
2. Ventilation
3. Exterior Wall - Ambient
passivhaus.protolife.com

11. 1
Log in to passivhaus.protolife.com
passivhaus.protolife.com

12. 1
Upload your PHPP File
1- Select ‘Optimize’
2- Upload your PHPP
passivhaus.protolife.com

13. 1
For our ‘Full Optimize’ Option:
1- Select the ‘Full Optimize’ tab
2- Select your Target
3- Select your Variables
4- Configure
passivhaus.protolife.com

14. 1
Select your ranges:
2- Launch!
1- Adjust sliders to a
feasible range
Note: current
value for each
variable is
provided here
passivhaus.protolife.com

15. The following variables have constant values
for all optimizations in this range:
Window Area: 12
Airtightness: 0.18
Specific Space Heating Demand = 25.022
Review and Analyze your Results:
1- Constants are Solid Choices!
2- Review
Lowest
Outputs next
3- Review
other large
clusters

16. Results Range is adjustable!
1- Expand or Contract your Results Range for
more info. Re-plot to update the graph
passivhaus.protolife.com

17. 17
Download the Data Table for finer detail:
passivhaus.protolife.com

18. 1
Explore another Target?
1- Try Heating Load
2- Try new Variables
3- Configure
passivhaus.protolife.com

19. 1
Select your ranges, But Beware!
2- Launch!
1- Adjust sliders to
a feasible range
Note: An HRV/ERV will never
recover more than 100%!
passivhaus.protolife.com

20. Modify your PHPP Assemblies:
With your PDT-Passivhaus outputs, use the results to modify your PHPP and select the
combination that best suits your project. For this project using fewer, higher performance
windows, plus a tighter building envelope, our floor, wall and roof assemblies don’t need to
be as well insulated. Choose what best reduces costs!
passivhaus.protolife.com

21. Make your design changes:
BEFORE
AFTER
South & East Elevations North & West Elevations
(Your window style & placement may vary)

22. Success!
This project meets the PH Standard via Heating Load

23. 23
Register to start using PDT-Passivhaus!
Website:
passivhaus.protolife.com
Twitter:
@PDT_Passivhaus
Thank you
for your
Attention
Contact us at:
info@protolife.com
(415) 689 1169
passivhaus.protolife.com