[GBlist] Zero energy houses

["Bion D. Howard" <bdhoward@ix.netcom.com>]

At 12:00 PM 11/19/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Is your design for a mixed climate?  [[sic  MTC]]

Yup - big tradeoff with HVAC size, envelope thermal and ACH, and "passive solar" all a balancing act.
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>Are you going to use a spectrally selective to low e to minimize air 
>conditioning loads? Can you eliminate the air conditioner entirely????

Fenestration contribution of C-gains needs to be managed:  fixed shading elements are helpful if you can control solar access at site, and proper landscaping a keeping specimen trees at site helpful too.

Trying to reduce / eliminate CAC - looking at dehumidification actually since envelope C-loads will be tiny.  

In MTC the envelope is a double edged sword - you have to address air-leakage but then you need to ventilate, which has operating parasitic electric demand.  

Also, HVAC techs here are a tough sell on mech. vent (Mid-Atlantic) because of "let house breathe" and other accidental ventilation brainwash over many years from various groups that resist regulation and standards.  If NPE design can work in Mid-Atlantic, and be built without bankruptcy of builder and buyer, it may be a helpful model.  Interestingly perhaps, is my fees are contingent on actually making it work (A. Lovins would like that...)

- this is a helpful dialogue, thanks for your time!!

Bion 



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