Retrofitting to Passive Standards

rooster108

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience in retrofit projects to a Passive standard (or close enough to it)?? Would there be any builders/contractors you'd recommend??

I'm starting a project soon where i'll be keeping the foundations and 3 solid stone walls of an existing house and raising the roof up 1/2 a storey and then trying to get it close to passive standard....maybe i'm too ambitious??? Flattening the existing bungalow (from the 1960's) and starting again might be a better option?? I'm open to any and all suggestions....

sas

This may help
http://www.constructireland.ie/Vol-4-Issue-5/Articles/Passive-Housing/19th-century-ruin-renovated-with-passive-house-aims.html

Do-more

rooster108 wrote: »

Flattening the existing bungalow (from the 1960's) and starting again might be a better option?? I'm open to any and all suggestions....

From following various builds and comments from people like beyondpassive who posts on here it appears that renovation costs to passive standard are very similar to new build costs, but with a renovation you end up making compromises you don't have to accept with a new build.

Unless the building is listed or holds some particular importance to you then I think you will probably find that knocking it and starting fresh is going to be the better solution with little or no financial penalty.

rooster108

Excellent piece and exactly what i was looking for!! many thanks!

BobMcBob

Do-more wrote: »

rooster108 wrote: »

Flattening the existing bungalow (from the 1960's) and starting again might be a better option?? I'm open to any and all suggestions....

From following various builds and comments from people like beyondpassive who posts on here it appears that renovation costs to passive standard are very similar to new build costs, but with a renovation you end up making compromises you don't have to accept with a new build.

Unless the building is listed or holds some particular importance to you then I think you will probably find that knocking it and starting fresh is going to be the better solution with little or no financial penalty.

In similar situation ourselves, just met architects last few weeks. Knocking was the concensus from everyone.

archtech

While knocking the house and starting afresh is properly the simplest solution in terms of cost, other issues should be considered. A new dwelling will most properly require by the planning authority a new treatment/ percolation area, irrespective of the condition/workings of the existing one, furthermore the planning authority could insist on achieving the current sight line standards as set out in their development plan for a new/replacement dwelling . These may or may not be issues, but just something that requires consideration.

Personally I don't think its over ambitious to aim for passive or near passive standard in a substantial refurbishment/alteration project, yes at times it can be challenging but new builds can be too.

Many architects and professionals will tell you its easier to start afresh, because, very few have, yet, developed the skillset in retrofit construction to the standards required.

While most of us haven't yet got to the stage of considering life cycle costings, embedded energy / zero carbon construction or energy consumed in constructing a low energy build, retaining an existing structure or part structure would normally assist these areas. Something that's going to become a bigger issue in the future.

afinador

Hi All...I'm new to Boards, and don't know if this thread has long been dead, but we're just about to start retrofitting a 70's semi-d to Passive standard. Planning in place, and ready to start works in about 3 weeks (yikes!)

Fairly obviously some serious knowledge on this site...Rooster108, did you knock or retrofit? How did it work out for you?

BryanF

afinador wrote: »

Hi All...I'm new to Boards, and don't know if this thread has long been dead, but we're just about to start retrofitting a 70's semi-d to Passive standard. Planning in place, and ready to start works in about 3 weeks (yikes!)

Fairly obviously some serious knowledge on this site...Rooster108, did you knock or retrofit? How did it work out for you?

You say planning is in place - do you mean the phpp calc, tender drawings, thermal analysis and spec are done, prices in and contractors prices checked ?How have you managed the 1ach/hr in te contract - it can be a difficult clause for a build to commit to in a retro-fit

afinador

Yes to all of the above planning questions. Single contractor who 'gets' the passiv standards and sees it as good thing to be involved with for the future of his business. Lots of detail from the architect, and a commitment from the contractor that he's responsible for meeting the standards/passing the tests during the build. Still learning a lot about the process, and don't know what the 1ach/hr ratio refers to

afinador

...air change/hour. My understanding is that once we achieve airtightness to the required standard then the HRV unit will control ach/hr ratio. Have budgeted for 3 blower tests.

Any advice on space heating? At this stage we're plumbing for an airto water heat pump, but they seem to have high running costs, and are expensive to buy. Lots of horror stories about wood pellets, so not keen. A HRV unit with a heating element fitted maybe? we're facing due south, and will have a lot of glass on south face, so don't anticipate a big need for additional space heat