Passivhaus project reveals flaws in Code
October 1st 2009 Research published on the current Denby Dale Passivhaus project in West Yorkshire has illustrated some serious flaws in the energy calculations used for Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH).
The academic report, undertaken by Jim Parker, CSH Assessor and consultant at 1st Base Projects, includes an energy CSH assessment of the Denby Dale Passivhaus house and has concluded that “a Passivhaus dwelling’s energy savings are not realistically represented by its Code for Sustainable Homes ratings”.
The research found that the Denby Dale Passivhaus, currently being constructed by Green Building Store’s construction division,would only meet CSH level 3 criteria for Ene 1:Dwelling Emission Rate, the mandatory aspect of the Code’s Energy Catagory despite its being projected to be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the UK.As the rating achieved in Ene 1 puts a constraint on the overall score, the building could not achieve higher than a level 3 rating regardless of its performance in other areas.All buildings meeting the strict Passivhaus standards have to have space heating requirements of less than 15kWh/m2/year, and use up to 90% less energy to heat.The report points out that many buildings receiving higher CSH ratings actually perform worse than the Denby Dale Passivhaus in terms of space heating requirements and airtightness, but gain points in other areas, and sometimes through the use of inefficient and expensive bolt-on renewable technologies. More articles from WEE News Desk: | 
