About this course
Through the lens of existing Passive House projects, expect to learn:
- How to pitch and promote the PH standard to stakeholders
- Considerations for client management in PH
- Budget evaluation and the feasibility of affordable PH
- How to evaluate the pros and cons of casement, fixed and tilt and turn windows, and other PH considerations
- Site evaluation examples, tips, and tricks
- Common pitfalls to avoid before, during, and after PH design and construction
- Avoiding common Passive House problems: thermal bridging, critters, moisture control, ventilation, etc.
- Climate considerations and implications
- How to assemble, manage and optimize your project team
- Identifying and minimizing project schedule risks
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Course outline
4 modules • 55 assignments • 10:38 hours of video lectures
Welcome • 0 assignments
Orientation Materials
This is a self-study on demand course. This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
Module 1 • 12 assignments
Setting the Stage – Why Passive House and Why Now?
Topics: Historical context, review of the Passive House Standard, energy language primer, comparison of building rating systems, use of energy modeling to improve performance, how challenging is Passive House space heat demand, Passive House and HERS, case study: a 35+ year old super-insulated home.
- Introduction to Passive House in the Real World (05:46 minutes)
- Historical Background of Passive House (21:19 minutes)
- Historical Background of Passive House - Quiz
- Energy Language (26:14 minutes)
- Energy Language - Quiz
- Energy Modeling (24:20 minutes)
- Energy Modeling - Quiz
- Leger House - Video (16:50 minutes)
- Leger House - Quiz
- Energy Language Homework (.xls)
- Energy Modeling Homework - Rev. 1.2 (.xls)
- Week 1 Resources (.pdf)
Module 2 • 17 assignments
Enclosures, Assemblies, and Systems – Through the Lens of Existing Projects
Topics: Psychometrics, moisture control, thermal bridging, ventilation and case studies, environmental impact of insulation, and minimizing that impact, a Passive House in winter without heating, window strategies. Learn from case studies and examples how to optimize these elements of Passive House design, and construction. Most of you have probably watched All About Windows and Passive vs Conventional Floor Planning, but if any have not, they are included here for convenience, it is a good idea to watch them before the remainder of the material. The All About Windows Q+A audio is optional.
- Lecture - "All About Windows" (56:00 minutes)
- 1-hour "All About Windows" Q+A audio recording (.mp3)
- Lecture - Passive vs. Conventional Floor Planning (01:00:47 hours)
- Article: Passive House Floor Planning
- Enclosures (39:47 minutes)
- Enclosures (10 questions)
- THERM And Thermal Bridging (12:32 minutes)
- THERM and Thermal Bridging (10 questions)
- Insulation (30:40 minutes)
- Insulation (11 questions)
- Ventilation - Theory (35:20 minutes)
- Ventilation - Theory (11 questions)
- Ventilation - Case Studies (26:11 minutes)
- Ventilation - Case Studies (10 questions)
- Interpreting Infrared images of buildings (.docx)
- Psychrometric Chart and Insulation (.xls)
- Week 2 Resources (.pdf)
Module 3 • 10 assignments
Air Tightness, Mechanicals, Lights, and Appliances
Topics: Space heating and cooling approaches, reasons for/against solar DHW and alternatives, the importance of the DHW distribution system drainwater heat recovery, the importance of lights and appliances, with examples from PH in design and completed.
- Air Tightness (35:49 minutes)
- Air Tightness (10 questions)
- Air Source Heat Pumps (31:31 minutes)
- Air Source Heat Pumps (10 questions)
- Domestic Hot Water - DHW (36:08 minutes)
- Domestic Hot Water (13 questions)
- Lights and Appliances (17:30 minutes)
- Lights and Appliances (10 questions)
- Week 3 Homework (.xls)
- Week 3 Resources (.pdf)
Module 4 • 11 assignments
To Certify Or Not To Certify
Topics: Zero Net / Passive House inspired, climate-adapted and traditional standards, evaluation of project potential for PH, organizing a successful project team, common pitfalls, helpful tools and resources. Case studies of Passive House inspired new homes, certified Passive House and Passive House inspired Deep Energy Retrofit.
- Zero Net Energy, Passive House Inspired, Certified Passive House (44:52 minutes)
- 4.1 Zero Net Energy, Passive House Inspired, Certified
- Evaluating a project for Passive House potential (30:15 minutes)
- 4.2 - Project Potential for Passive House Certification
- Marketing Passive House (14:46 minutes)
- 4.3 - Marketing Passive House
- Organizing a successful Passive House certification project (39:59 minutes)
- Passive House Case Studies (31:26 minutes)
- 4.4 - Organizing a successful Passive House project
- Week 4 Homework
- Week 4 Resources (.pdf)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
- Reporting Form for PHIUS CEUs
Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- 10.5 PHIUS CPHC CEUs
- 10 BPI CEUs
Author
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Mike Duclos
RetiredMike Duclos is a principal and founder of The DEAP Energy Group, LLC, a consultancy providing a wide variety of Deep Energy Retrofit, Zero Net Energy and Passive House related consulting services. Mike was an energy consultant on the Transformations, Inc. Zero Energy Challenge entry, and has worked on a variety of Zero Net Energy, DER and Passive House projects,... Learn more