HPH345: Why is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) such a useful tool? – with Sarah Lewis
Feb 14, 2024
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Sarah Lewis, Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust, explains the importance of the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) in architectural design. She discusses common mistakes, challenges, and benefits of using PHPP, as well as the role of clients in energy balance and summer comfort considerations.
PHPP simplifies energy balance modeling for efficient building design.
Passive House standards prioritize insulation, airtightness, and orientation for energy-efficient buildings.
Deep dives
Overview of Passive House Trust and PHPP
The podcast episode features an interview with Sarah Lewis from the Passive House Trust, who explains the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). PHPP is a tool developed by the Passive House Institute in Germany to provide quick and accurate feedback on design decisions for energy-efficient buildings. It simplifies the energy balance modeling process and allows designers to optimize their buildings for energy efficiency. The Passive House Trust offers resources and guidance for both professionals and clients, including a benefits guide and a How to Build a Passive House guide.
Understanding Passive House Principles
Passive House is a building standard that focuses on whole-building energy efficiency and high-quality construction. It sets clear targets and emphasizes the importance of insulation, airtightness, ventilation, and orientation. Passive House buildings are well-suited for future net-zero targets and can be designed for new builds or retrofits. The podcast discusses the specific criteria of a Passive House, including space heating demand, solar gains, and primary energy usage. It highlights the importance of optimizing internal heat gains, maintaining summer comfort, and minimizing the heating system's energy needs.
Introduction to PHPP and Its Development
PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) is an Excel-based spreadsheet tool developed by the Passive House Institute. It was designed to provide designers with quick and accurate feedback on the energy performance of their buildings. Unlike dynamic modeling tools, PHPP focuses on energy balance modeling and simplifies the process for designers. It helps architects make informed design choices and test different scenarios at an early stage. The podcast explains the development of PHPP and highlights the advantages of using a simplified energy balance tool for design decisions.
Benefits and Practical Use of PHPP for Retrofit Projects
PHPP can also be used for retrofit projects, allowing designers to plan and optimize energy-efficient renovations. The podcast emphasizes the value of PHPP in planning staged retrofits and designing for future energy targets. It encourages designers to consider the long-term retrofit plan and use PHPP to optimize energy performance step-by-step. The podcast mentions the NRFit Retrofit Plan, which uses PHPP to plan and document retrofit steps, ensuring that each retrofit measure supports subsequent improvements. It also emphasizes the importance of considering factors like airtightness and holistic design solutions in retrofit projects.
Sarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is and how it is used during the design process.