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[amor de cosmos]

Seems like there isn't much to it. It doesn't have any exotic materials or anything, just better use of the existing ones. I guess adding solar panels or geothermal setup would make it even more efficient:
 

There are some passive homes in BC. Rob is aware of houses in Greater Vancouver, Nelson, Fort St John and 4 in the ski lover’s haven of Whistler.

When Rob’s son, Mark Bernhardt, a building contractor in Victoria, investigated building standards he came across comments that high performance buildings were too expensive, were not practical in North American, etc. “But as we investigated Passive House, we could not see anything particularly expensive and it is well proven.” Rob said. “It made sense to construct high performance buildings.”

They decided to build a two family residence in Sannich, close to Cedar Hill Golf Course. Mark and his family now live in the top floor and Rob & his wife on the lower level.

A Passive House, for those of you unfamiliar with the concept, use as little as10% of the energy required by conventional houses. They achieve this by designing a more efficient building envelope. There are no floor joists that extend outside to hold a balcony.

“That’s a thermal bridge, transferring heat to the exterior.” Rob explained.

http://www.theecorep...ncouver-island/

Edited by amor de cosmos, 05 June 2014 - 09:38 AM.