Passive House
Passive House practitioners in particular specialize in the most efficient home energy protocol in the world today. Expanding upon discoveries pioneered by American builders in the 70's and 80's around super-insulation, air-tight envelopes, energy recovery ventilation and triple-pane windows, building science professor Dr. Wolfgang Feist developed the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany in 1996. Energy requirements to heat and cool the home were reduced by 90%. The Passive House method has been brought back and adapted for the North American climate by Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), as well as by the North American Passive House Network.
EDGEhouse's Michael Grant is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). Michael has been attending Passive House conferences since 2007, and has instructed on Passive House methodology to special interest groups.
The logged data below illustrates actual performance of a (near) Passive House off-grid project, namely in its ability to maintain comfortable year-round temperatures without relying on any fossil fuel with one minor exception: firing up the wood stove only 5 times through the entire winter season. Project elevation is 8000ft, above Los Alamos, NM.
What does performance look like?
A smart envelope is all in the details.
For general information about Passive House, visit both: