The North American Passive House Network has published a free e-book explaining the principles of Passivhaus and net-zero-energy construction techniques.
Net Zero Energy Buildings: Passive House + Renewables advocates for construction of Passivhaus buildings with renewable energy to achieve net-zero-energy structures. The publication explains the fundamentals of Passivhaus structures including high levels of insulation, high-quality glazing with thermally insulated window frames, strategies to minimize thermal bridging, low air leakage rates, and efficient mechanical ventilation systems.
One section covers successful individual projects. Examples include new construction and retrofits, including single-family and multifamily dwellings from around the country.
Links to web sites where more information may be available are provided.
Related Stories
| Apr 16, 2014
Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]
Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.
| Apr 15, 2014
Avoided energy use exceeds contribution of other fuels: IEA report
Avoided energy use attributable to energy-efficiency investments has resulted in a contribution outstripping the annual consumption of oil, natural gas, electricity, and coal.
| Mar 26, 2014
Callison launches sustainable design tool with 84 proven strategies
Hybrid ventilation, nighttime cooling, and fuel cell technology are among the dozens of sustainable design techniques profiled by Callison on its new website, Matrix.Callison.com.
| Mar 7, 2014
Thom Mayne's high-tech Emerson College LA campus opens in Hollywood [slideshow]
The $85 million, 10-story vertical campus takes the shape of a massive, shimmering aircraft hangar, housing a sculptural, glass-and-aluminum base building.
| Mar 6, 2014
AIA and almost 1,000 other businesses oppose effort to repeal energy efficiency bill
This opposition comes in response to reports that the oil and gas lobby pushed to include a repeal of Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act in the bipartisan Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill.
| Feb 13, 2014
Extreme Conversion: Nazi bunker transformed into green power plant, war memorial
The bunker, which sat empty for over 60 years after WWII, now uses sustainable technology and will provide power to about 4,000 homes.
| Jan 30, 2014
How reverse engineering nature can spur design innovation
It’s not enough to copy nature. Today’s designers need a deeper understanding of environmental nuance, from the biome in.
| Jan 23, 2014
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed Federation of Korean Industries tower opens in Seoul [slideshow]
The 50-story tower features a unique, angled building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) exterior designed to maximize the amount of energy collected.
| Jan 16, 2014
The incandescent light bulb is not dead
Despite misleading media reports, January 1 did not mark a ban on the manufacture or import of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
