What does it mean to go ‘Beyond Efficiency’? Isn’t efficiency the ultimate goal in green building?

Submitted by katy on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 22:21

?q=webfm_send/6A truly successful building--one that is loved and stands the test of time--transcends efficiency. It’s healthy, comfortable and filled with natural light; it feels good and improves people’s well-being. It has thoughtfully and well-designed spaces that are smart and functional. It considers and connects to the community.

I own a small condominium that was built in the 1950’s and has zero insulation and an entire wall of louvered single-pane windows. It’s also surrounded by leafy live oaks, filled with beautiful light and just a mile walk from my office. It’s a happy place. If I had to choose between my home and something new and energy-efficient, but that's in a dead-end subdivision miles from a market, I would stay right here.

Efficiency is vital, but without these other intangible and "beyond the lot line" elements a building will not endure. And when focusing only on the concept of efficiency, it's easy to get blinded by isolated components and neglect the ultimate goal of optimizing the entire system--from the building to the site, community and beyond. Elements of a building are only as efficient as the larger systems they are part of.

Beyond Efficiency exists to help architects and developers integrate technical expertise, analytical tools, and common-sense best practices into their mixed-use, community and residential projects--while being pragmatic and keeping sense of the big picture. Learn more about us and how we can help you.


High Performance Details for California Climates: Lessons Learned at 2012 ACI California Home Performance Conference!

Submitted by katy on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 22:32

Passive House advocates Katy Hollbacher, Bronwyn Barry and Mary James are delivering this presentation at the upcoming 2012 ACI California Home Performance Conference June 5-6 in Sacramento. This session is Tuesday, June 5 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.. Don't miss out!

Lessons Learned
Often there is a large discrepancy between the targeted energy efficiency of a retrofit or newly built home and its actual performance. The Passive House building energy standard was developed more than two decades ago to drastically reduce energy use in buildings. What are the lessons to be learned from this wealth of experience and research, and how are these lessons being applied to California climates? Drawing from their experiences with Passive House techniques and construction approaches, the presenters will discuss: cost-effective wall assemblies that work; window selection and installation details; HVAC pitfalls to avoid; and the importance of monitoring and retrocommissioning.

By attending this session, participants will:

  1. Compare and contrast relative cost, constructability, and performance of various high-R-value wall assemblies
  2. Discuss pros and cons of common HVAC approaches in Passive House projects
  3. Describe why post-construction monitoring is essential to ensuring high-performance designs meet expectations

Avena Bella Affordable Multifamily Housing Breaks Ground!

Submitted by katy on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 12:47

Avena Bella LEED multifamilyEAH Housing and the City of Turlock officially broke ground on Avena Bella, an 80 unit affordable housing property, on March 28. It is seeking both LEED Homes (first in Stanislaus County) and GreenPoint Rated certifications and includes both tried-and-true and innovative green building measures including: 

  • Energy: dense-pack cellulose insulation, insulated headers, Quality Insulation Installation (QII) credit, Cool Roof, radiant barrier, roof overhangs, window awnings, heat pump water heaters, high-efficiency appliances, 100% high-efficacy lighting 
  • Health/air quality: low-emitting materials, continuous filtered ventilation with heat recovery ventilators (HRVs, especially important given project location on busy Highway 99) 
  • Resources: high waste diversion goals, rain screen stucco facade, cellulose insulation, recycled-content carpet 
  • Water: very low-flow fixtures, native and drought-tolerant landscaping, zero storm water civil design 
  • Community/beauty: community gardens, rainwater gardens, attractive buildings and site layout
    Beyond Efficiency is the green building consultant for Avena Bella.

--> View press release


Passive House & Energy Modeling: The Foundation of High-Performance Buildings

Submitted by katy on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 13:33

SFIA Fall 2011 Class: Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45 p.m. 
FIRST CLASS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Guests are welcome for first class. $350 credit, $200 noncredit

This course is for architects, engineers, and green building consultants who want to learn about Passive House and how to leverage this rigorous building energy standard in your projects. The main objective of this course is for you to understand the underlying science and calculations of heat transfer and solar gain, and how those inform building energy modeling tools. The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) modeling tool, available for $225 from passivehouse.us, is encouraged but not required; class exercises and homework will not require it.
Sessions
  1. Passive House intro: What makes a Passive House; what you need to know and expect if you embark on a Passive House project 
  2. Energy balance: Heat losses - heat gains = heat demand; building orientation & building shape; heat transfer mechanisms & how they apply to buildings 
  3. Windows: Key terminology; U.S. vs European window specifications; U-value vs. SHGC tradeoffs; window weak points (not the glass!) & how to mitigate 
  4. Building assemblies: Insulation, thermal bridging, & constructability 
  5. Thermal mass: When does thermal mass matter? Getting over myths & making sense of a complicated topic. 
  6. Modeling strategies: How to approach energy modeling in a strategic way to minimize effort and mistakes.

This course qualifies for AIA and USGBC CEUs.


Visit us at the Jackson Hole News & Guide Home Show April 15-16!

Submitted by katy on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 12:16

Beyond Efficiency and Sunlight Design at Booth #9

Come visit us, Jackson’s high-performance design and consulting collaborative, this Friday and Saturday at Snow King. We offer: 

  • Smart Growth & community design
  • Passive House, passive solar & daylighting design
  • Energy modeling & optimization studies
  • Cost-benefit analyses
  • Structural & mechanical engineering
  • Building durability review & detailing
  • Customized technical training for design teams. 

We have the expertise to both advise on your new high-performance projects as well as troubleshoot your existing building’s problems. Our mission is to help you create healthy, highly efficient, sensible, timeless buildings by applying science, creativity and common sense to design and engineering challenges. 

Beyond Efficiency-Sunlight Design services


Advanced Framing Guide for Architects, Engineers & Builders

Submitted by katy on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 18:27

The guide provides a systematic approach for applying Advanced Framing measures to your light-frame wood buildings; it also discusses how to set overall energy performance goals for your project, calculate framing factors, and estimate average assembly R-values. 

Download the free 7-page PDF here (right-click to download).

Advanced Framing - insulated header

I welcome any feedback or suggestions on improving this guide. Happy Framing!

Image: Insulated header, Cottle Zero Energy Home (Building America project, photo by K. Hollbacher)