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Old 01-02-09, 10:05 PM   #1
GenKreton
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Default Shelter/ Passive Houses

Quote:
A technique known in the US and Canada as superinsulation and called "passive housing" in Europe is really getting notice and being adopted by more architects. The concept is simple, you use a *lot* more insulation and things like triple pane gas filled windows and tighten up the house to keep the warm or cool air in, reducing energy costs dramatically.

To avoid stuffiness and molds, etc, an air heat exchanger is installed, along with good air filters. You have planned air in and out, and it scavenges the heat and returns it to the home. The result is a home that uses perhaps only 1/20th of the energy a "normal" home of similar size might use, even so called "good cents" home design pushed by the utility companies. Those designs are simply not adequate, they are the equivalent of going out with just a T shirt in the winter compared to a superinsulated home which would be a full snowmobile suit complete with helmet. Here's an article about the new (old) industry.

Passive houses and superinsulation

Another advantage of such systems is, once the major energy costs of maintaining a home month to month are conquered, making up the difference in energy needs for lighting, etc, is *much* cheaper then if you want to go solar PV for example. Heating and cooling are the big energy costs for most homes, after that, the electric or natural gas bill falls off rapidly for other uses. Spend more upfront in better design, where it rapidly pays itself off in cheaper monthly "bills", or keep writing that big check to the energy cartels forever.... seems like getting independent and keeping your cash is a better idea,

More linkage:

Superinsulation

Passive House
A post by a friend made here Survival Resources News Daily
Interesting stuff.

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