Goals
Hayden Robinson
Without knowing PHIUS+'s goal, it's hard to have a meaningful discussion about it, and people end up talking past each other, which seems like what's been going on for the past couple of days. Again, we sound like long jumpers arguing that high jumpers don't jump far enough. Hence the observation that:
PHIUS+ positions itself as part of D.O.E.'s Zero Energy Ready Home program3 by synthesizing aspects of Passive House, ZERH, and BEopt cost analysis.4,5 For PHIUS+, net zero is the goal, and enclosure performance is a means to achieving it.6 With the inclusion of renewables in mind, PHIUS+
enclosure-performance criteria are sensitive to the comparative cost of PV.7
Using Passive House as a model: it's signature goal is building enclosures that trivialize heating systems. Knowing the goal makes it possible to evaluate the efficacy of the standard. It also lets you evaluate the goal itself. This sets the stage for meaningful dialog:
Arthur: "The Passive House standard does a poor job of minimizing heating systems because its heating demand criteria encourage them to stray from the peak load criteria."
Edward: "I see Art's point, but it doesn't consider that a more accurate statement of Passive House's goal would acknowledge its emphasis on cost effectiveness; the demand-criteria option addresses this."
Elizabeth: "I get what you two are saying, but minimizing heating-systems is not my goal. Minimizing total energy use is important to me. I share the Living Building Challenge's goals; they are..."
If not ”PHIUS+ positions itself...." , what's PHIUS+'s goal statement? I'm hopeful that figuring this out will help us talk in an effective, productive way.
-Hayden
Hayden Robinson Zertifizierter Passivhausdesigner
hayden robinson architect