Side by side monitored performance comparisons of two Passivhaus and Low Carbon Welsh Houses
Written by Ian Ridley, Justin Bere, Alan Clarke, Yair Schwartz, Andrew Farr, the article The Side by Side in use Monitored Performance of two Passive and Low Carbon Welsh Houses states performance comparisons between the homes.
Photo Credit: Bere Architects
The performance of the homes was monitored over 2 years. The houses which differ in terms of glazed area, the use of thermal stores, area of installed PV and occupant behaviour provide a valuable insight into different strategies to achieve low and near zero low carbon performance in social housing. Highlights include:
- Monitoring of two side by side UK dwellings certified to Passivhaus Standards
- First detailed monitoring of a Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 house
- Analysis of overheating risk in Passivhaus homes that have different areas of glazing
- Comparison of measured performance with PHPP and CSH predictions
- Analysis of the achievability of meeting primary energy and zero carbon targets
Dwelling 1 and Dwelling 2 achieved average net annual carbon emissions of 9.4 kg/m2, 24.0 kg/m2, approximately 13%, 33% of a typical “building stock” UK house.
The risk of summer time overheating in the dwellings which different glazed areas is analysed in depth.
Dwelling 1 certified to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 did not achieve true onsite zero carbon performance, the installed PV systems in each dwelling would need to be approximately 6 kW peak to meet this target.
Occupant electricity consumption behaviour and appliance choices have a great impact on the energy performance of the houses. With current carbon intensities electricity consumption in UK Passivhaus' needs to be limited to approximately 30% that of the current UK average household if primary energy and zero energy targets are to be achieved while limiting PV size to below 5 kW peak.
The report can be purchased here and it will be made available for free in an upcoming TSB publication due to be released soon.
Further Information
28th July 2014
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