Energy efficient building envelopes4/11/2024 This material acts as a heat sink and can reduce the thermal performance of an assembly immensely as well as pose a risk of condensation and mold growth. Put simply, a thermal bridge is a break in insulation where heat can flow more easily from the inside of a space to the outside through a material with a higher conductivity (or lower thermal resistance). The concept of thermal bridging is relatively simple but equally as foreign to most builders today. These areas have such a high potential for energy loss for two reasons: air leakage and a condition known as “thermal bridging”. The weakest point in any building envelope will always be at the connection details – the corners of the building as well as any seams where two different materials must be connected such as window frames. This simple design change is by far the easiest and cheapest way to reduce energy demands. A higher degree of interior comfort is achieved with this strategy as well, reducing the existence of drafts and uncomfortable indoor surface temperatures. In the SURE HOUSE, R-Values of 10 h ft² F/Btu greater than NJ code are being used for the entire shell, reducing heat losses and lowering yearly space conditioning energy demands. The concept is simple: put in the upfront cost to have thicker walls, roofs and floors and reduce heat flow into or out of the house, reducing conditioning costs. One of the main tenants that the Passive House idea was built on was the need for unusually high amounts of insulation in building assemblies. To achieve this, the SURE HOUSE is employing four main strategies in its construction that set it apart from a typical home. The combination of these criteria require a building with an exceptionally efficient envelope designed to reduce energy loss to such a point that a minimal amount of energy is required to heat or cool the space. Air Tightness: 0.6 Air Changes per Hour at pressure (50 pascals) Specific Cooling Demand: < 15 kWh/m²a or 4.75 kBtu/ft²-yrģ. Specific Heating Demand: < 15 kWh/m²a or 4.75 kBtu/ft²-yr The standard has three main requirements in order to maintain simplicity:ġ. This standard, created in Germany in the 1980s, has been growing in popularity in the United States over the past decade and has been shown to reduce home energy use by up to 90%. While the term “passive” is used often in the sustainable building industry, for instance when describing the utilization of passive solar gains for heat, in this instance a Passive House describes a building that has been designed from its very inception to reduce heating and cooling energy demand to the point that conventional HVAC systems are unnecessary. That is why we are striving to achieve the most stringent energy efficient building standard in existence today – the Passive House standard. As you know, Sustainability is paramount to the goal of the SURE HOUSE.
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