Life's too short to be uncomfortable....or having your bloomers in a bunch...

Yes....more about the Passive House idea--again. Why do I keep harping about this Passive House 'thing'?
      It's simple-one word...comfort.
      You cannot hire just any builder-no matter how talented they might be-to go out and build a Passive House. The philosophy and the technical aspects have been honed for nearly 50 years of research,trial and error, engineering and thousands of Passive Houses that have been constructed and monitored.
       So...is it difficult? The design/build/engineering comes from the co-operation of all three disciplines and the Passive House consultant. The PH consultant,in some cases, is also the builder. The knowledge and expertise required is in the form of the Passive House Planning Package-PHPP for short. The PH consultant is versed in the necessary design calculations and software optimization to implement both quality assurance and to create a true Passive House that' works' according to the principles outlined by the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS).
       Okay now, so how does this relate to comfort-easy----let's look at some of the examples that help to make the PH......comfortable:
        TEMPERATURE- the people living in a Passive House like the warmth of it during the winter-typically around 70-75 degrees (and with very little in the way of a traditional heating system..and a Passive Power House can help generate more power,more hot water...). And in the summer the house is comfortably cool-without the aid of typical air conditioning.
         DRAFTS/ DRAFTY FEELING-nope..not in a PH. The design and construction incorporate controlled living space ventilation for systematic changes with fresh air-not recycled,stale air. And the house is built to air tight standards, coupled with extraordinary windows and exterior doors.
         YOUR POCKETBOOK- on average a PH has been discovered to cost about 8-10% more than if you were to build a comparably sized well insulated house. A Power House would be a bit more because of the added photvoltaic,solar hot water,etc systems. A PH can easily save you in the neighborhood of from  $1100 to $2100 in running costs per year. (Based on the Austrian PH-converted from Euros).
         CLEANLINESS-the mechanical 'brain' of the PH is the Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) or the Heat Recovery Ventilation  (HRV) system. Either sysytem is designed  to balance outgoing stale,moist air with incoming fresh air, and in the case of the HRV, to capture the heat from the outgoing exhaust air and blend the heat-only with incoming fresh air- so you are recycling the old for the fresh..all the time. Bathrooms and kitchens are outfitted with humidity sensors to control and to exhaust unwanted dampness from the house. Because the incoming fresh air is filtered,HEPA filters can be installed on most ERV/HRV units. So are you stuck in this super -insulated box with mechanical ventilation???.....No. The Passive House Institute (PHI) recommends that every house design has windows that open. This way you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
         MOLD & MILDEW-because the house is air and wind proof,has excellent thermal insulation characteristics, is thermal bridge-free (those ice cold windows-usually metal-that ice up and drip water all over--that's a thermal bridge--the cold 'hops' into the house via the window frame..and stays), has excellent windows and doors,and with high quality air and moisture changes----it leaves no place for mold and mildew to grow. So, you and your family stay healthier.
         COSY-yep....cosy....because of these sterling characteristics; the interior use of VOC-free/low VOC products; 'clean' carpets,draperies; and the use of sustainable interior finishes like wood,stone,
tile,bamboo; insulation materials such as cellulose and 'clean' foams...you just 'feel' cosier,safer, and
healthier. And when Mother Nature is howling outside with cold , January snow squalls..you can sit comfortably and cosier in you new Passive House.
         In a sentence...the house is good for you,your kids or grandkids, your pets and it can sure help your pocketbook.
    (Thanks to: www.oesterreichhaus.at ; the Czech Passive House Centre; http://www.max15.sk--a/ Passive House architectural firm in Slovakia; and  "Homes for a Changing Climate"/PHIUS)