PITTENWEEM - A Passivhaus In Fife For Kingdom Housing Association

1. PITTENWEEM -A Passivhaus In FifeFor Kingdom Housing Association David Tibbs Partner Oliver + Robb Architects

2. Introduction The Project Why Passivhaus? What is Passivhaus? How we achieve the standards. What are the benefits? What is happening next? realising youraspirations

3. The Project • Three bedroom two storey dwelling in Pittenweem, Fife. • Kingdom HA, lead developer for Fife Housing Associations Alliance and responsible for delivering affordable housing in Fife. • Need to address Fuel Poverty and improve Quality of Living. • Scottish Government’s ambitious programme to have ‘net zero carbon buildings’ by 2016 and ‘total zero carbon buildings’ by 2030. • Trial house to explore technologies/construction techniques with a view to incorporate into main stream affordable housing. quality creativity performance

4. Why Passivhaus? • PassivHaus is, arguably, the low energy, low carbon design standard. • In January 2008 European Parliament called on the Commission to propose that all new buildings needing to be heated and/or cooled are constructed to Passivhaus standards from 2011. • Passivhaus seeks to eliminate the need for space heating. • Passivhaus designs require robust build quality whilst the layouts are light and airy with excellent air quality • Passivhaus seek to improve the health and comfort of the inhabitants. realising your aspirations

5. What is Passivhaus? • Developed in Germany in 1996 • Principle relies on • Very high levels of insulation • Super insulated openable windows • Well sealed building fabric • Simply the building retains heat from activities such as cooking, watching TV, showering and uses these to heat the building thus dramatically reducing the need for a central heating system. quality creativity performance

6. What is Passivhaus? Thermal image of a block of flats to Passivhaus standard (right) compared to a standard construction (left). realising your aspirations

7. What is Passivhaus? • A comparison of standards quality creativity performance

8. How do we achieve this? • Insulation + Thermal Bridging • External walls, slabs to the ground and roofs are within 0.1-0.15 w/m2K u-value (SBSA 0.16-3.0 w/m2K). All significant thermal bridging is designed out. • Insulation is applied continuously around the building. • Windows/Doors have 0.7 w/m2K u-value (SBSA 2.2 w/m2K). realising your aspirations

9. How do we achieve this? • Air Tightness • Unwanted air leakage can significantly increase space heating requirements and cause localised discomfort. • Achieving this level of air-tightness requires a strategy to be developed at the design stage and following through with meticulous detailing with the final test being very sensitive to the quality of workmanship • Use of Closed Panel Construction aids both air tightness and build quality as well as reduces construction time on site. quality creativity performance

10. How do we achieve this? • Mechanical Ventilation + Heat Recovery • The necessity for an extremely air tight fabric means that MVHR is required to maintain quality of indoor air by replacing unwanted odours, moisture and carbon dioxide generated by the occupants with fresh air. • The Heat Recovery simply exchanges heat from the exhaust air and uses it to reduce additional heating requirements. realising your aspirations

11. How do we achieve this? • Other Design Considerations • Utilisation of Passive Solar Gains • Optimised orientation and layout therefore reducing space heating requirements. • Fanlights added above internal doors for borrowed light to hall and stairs. • Internal Gains and Overheating • All energy consumption ends up as heat therefore low energy lighting and appliances are used to reduce internal gains. quality creativity performance

12. How do we achieve this? • Other Design Considerations • Renewable + Low Carbon Technologies • These technologies are not a core requirement for Passivhaus but can further reduce running cost and carbon dioxide emissions. Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic panels are both used. The Government’s proposed ‘Feed In’ Tariff will also benefit the tenant. • Air-Water Heat Pump is the primary source of heating for the water borne underfloor heating. realising your aspirations

13. What are the benefits? • When compared against current new build standards using SAP 2005 the tenant should benefit from: - • Reduced energy consumption of over 90% • Zero carbon dioxide emissions • Tenant’s Annual fuel cost reduced by over 45% • Cash Incentive from the Scottish Government’s proposed ‘Feed In’ Tariff which when calculated is greater than the anticipated fuel bill for the year. quality creativity performance

14. What is happening next? • Construction will commence on site late March 2010 • As part of the initiative the dwelling is fitted with various monitoring equipment. These will be monitored for a two year period. • Kingdom HA and Scottish Government to review and determine how to implement into main development programme. realising your aspirations

15. Thank you Oliver + Robb Architects Pitreavie Drive Dunfermline KY11 8UH www.oliverandrobb.co.uk quality creativity performance