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Praxis Resilient Buildings, engineering for healthy, comfortable buildings
DHW + PV: solar PV top-up for domestic hot water
DHW + PV: all-electric hot water heating for Passive houses, with surplus solar PV top-up Energy consumption from DHW use is often higher than heating and cooling requirements in a residential Passivhaus. This is mainly due to the large losses inherent in storing and recirculating hot water, and because heating and cooling demands are very low, thanks to an optimised fabric design that…
Hygrothermal calculation of a bio-based timber frame wall module
Hygrothermal calculation of a bio-based timber frame wall module Dynamic hygrothermal simulation and full-scale validation of a structural insulated panel made from bio-based materials. Given the environmental impact of the construction sector- responsible for 40% of the total primary energy consumption of the European Union- reducing both the embodied energy of materials at manufacturing stage…
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Healthy home: materials and indoor air quality
The U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that the air in our homes is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. After spending so much time at home during successive COVID lockdowns, the importance of living in a healthy home has perhaps become clearer than ever before.
Keys to the Passivhaus standard: what is it and how to achieve it?
The Passivhaus standard is a voluntary energy certification standard for new and retrofitted buildings, aimed at providing maximum comfort for occupants, excellent indoor air quality and near-zero energy consumption.
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