September 29, 2009
For some time we have been debating in the office about Code for Sustainable Homes and Passivhaus, we feel strongly that the Code tends to receive breaks in terms of government backing where Passivhaus is forgotten about to a large degree. As a result we felt it pertinent to create a petition to try to help rectify this imbalance. Rather than saying one solution should be in place of the other. Lets be reasonable and use both when each is appropriate.
Please let us know your thoughts and sign up to the petition below.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Passivhaus-S-D/
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Allow stamp duty exemption on passivhaus certified buildings.
Recently the government allowed an exemption for stamp duty on homes which meet the Code for Sustainable Homes level 6. This is a positive move to encourage growth in low carbon buildings, however, the UK is currently experiencing a huge growth in interest of passivhaus buildings. The passivhaus system and CSH are not directly comparable as they use different technology to analyse performance, however it is clear that the passivhaus system has created more low carbon buildings worldwide than the CSH. CSH is currently being re-written to become more like passivhaus, this recognition should be shown in a relief of stamp duty for passivhaus certified buildings.
September 16, 2009
Today we undertook an air test at one of our currently projects, Albion Hill.
Equipment used for the air test
The purpose of this test is to ensure that a certain level of air tightness in order to obtain a certain ecohomes assessment rating which is part of the SAPs report. The test allows us to identify weaknesses with the structure on site.
Firstly the building has to be fully sealed, with all trickle vents and any ducts to the outside taped up and sealed creating a fully sealed building envelope. Once this has occurred one door or window is opened, this is where the test will be carried out. Within this door frame a large fan is placed and sealed in place.
Jo on site looking for defects
The building is now depressurized to create a pressure differential which will mean that air will penetrate any defects in the building fabric. Once the depressurization has finished you will be able to go around the building looking for defects. This can be done in many different way s.
For this we went around feeling ever window and door frame, every duct and even the spot lights for any defects in the construction. Once we had identified the problem areas a reading can be given. For this reading to be accurate we have to provide the floor areas and volumes for the building.
We initially target a figure of 5m3/m2/h as part of our ecohomes assessment within the SAPs rating report, however, the building actually achieved a figure of 4m3/m2/h and with the advise that with some minor changes we could actually achieve a figure of 3m3/m2/h which would be a fantastic achievement.
Paul Jenning checking his readings
The air test was carried out on our behalf by Paul Jennings.
