THERM is the software program developed by Lawrence Berkeley Labs and typically used to determine the heat-loss performance for glazing and window frame profiles. This program can also be used to help evaluate various other building assemblies and is particularly useful for Passive House thermal bridge analysis. 

Join us for an afternoon seminar to learn how to use this program to optimize your building assembly details, reduce thermal bridges and determine how to control moisture in your wall assemblies. Learn which assemblies will perform better than others and how to locate the likely condensation spots within your foundation, wall and roof assemblies.

• Date: Sunday, August 15, 2010
• Time: 1:00-5:00PM
• Cost: $40
• Place: Quantum Builders, Berkeley, CA

--> Space is limited! Register now at http://phcathermseminar.eventbrite.com

In this seminar you will learn:

• How to draw a basic detail in THERM
• How to add materials to your Materials Library
• How to create Boundary Conditions for various climates
• Introductory analysis techniques and how to interpret your outputs accurately and realistically

You will receive a file containing a basic materials and boundary conditions library for California building materials and climate conditions. You should leave this seminar with enough information to start creating your own THERM files with basic output results to determine best construction practices. Seminar is hosted and run by Bronwyn Barry, a Certified Passive House Consultant and Building Designer at Quantum Builders. Bronwyn has been using THERM for the past year to supplement the building details analysis work for both in-house projects and as a consultant to other architects and builders. She has had her work on THERM reviewed and verified by the program manager at LBNL and by Marc Rosenbaum, a well-respected energy consultant from the East Coast.

PLEASE NOTE: for directions, go to: http://www.quantumbuilder.com/index.php?id=1042 as the building location access is not the same as the mailing address.

We hope you can join us to connect with other Passive House advocates and sign on to help one or more of our Committees achieve their goals. And, please consider becoming a Passive Buildings California member before the meeting so you can leave your checkbook at home for the rest of 2010! Learn more and sign up here.

Place: Pyramid Brewery Conference Room: 901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Meeting Fee: $10 helps cover the venue cost and gets you a beer or other beverage.

3:00-3:30PM New Participants: Welcome and Introduction

1. What is the Passive House standard?
2. What is the Passive House California group, and how is it structured?

3:30-5:00PM All Participants

1. Welcome and introductions to Board of Directors (5min)
2. New attendee introductions (5min)
3. Committee updates (10min)
   
   • Education
   • Advocacy
   • Development
   • Marketing
4. General updates& special announcements (20min)
   • 2010 West Coast Green & Passive House Open House: info & solicitation for volunteers
   • CLAM event debriefs
   • Seeking a videographer volunteer to record & publish PHCA monthly meetings!
   • Other announcements
5. Educational presentation: (45min)
   • Optimal Window and Door Installations for Passive House (Bronwyn Barry, Quantum Builders)
   • Next month: topic & speaker TBD
6. Closing:
   • Next meeting Sunday, September 12, Pyramid Brewery Conference Room *NOTE NO AUGUST MEETING*

Then, stick around for a special extended PHPP study session, the hands-on Contractor's Corner, or just general networking and another beer!

On October 3, 2010, Passive House California (PHCA) will hold its first annual Passive House Conference and Open House Day in conjunction with West Coast Green! This exciting event is an opportunity for all of us who are working hard to get the Passive House (PH) movement off the ground to share with the public what we have accomplished, and drum up new interest and new clients. There are several options for participation:

1. List your project(s) in the PHCA Guidebook (online feature). This listing will contain information about your PH project, project team, performance specs, systems, and a short narrative about what makes your project unique
2. List your project(s) in the PHCA Guidebook and host an open house on Sunday, October 3rd
3. List your project(s) in the PHCA Guidebook, host an open house AND be featured on a guided VIP bus tour (this will be limited to 4 PH projects, and dependent on location, logistics and participant registration minimums)

Additionally, sponsorship opportunities will be announced in the near future.

This event is being produced in conjunction with West Coast Green 2010. PHCA will conduct a 1/2 day educational conference at Ft Mason on Tuesday, September 28th, followed by a general session during West Coast Green conference proceedings (Sept 29th - Oct 2nd), and then the Passive House Open House Day on Sunday, October 3rd. If you'd like to participate, please complete this information form (.doc format) in its entirety and return to justin@passivehouseca.org by Monday, July 12. The only optional entry field is construction cost/sq.ft., as we understand not everyone wants to share this information. To help cover the costs of producing the electronic guidebook and event, a $25 application fee for all projects is required and can be paid here:

http://phca2010.eventbrite.com

Only complete forms with fee receipt attached will be considered. If you have any questions regarding the completion of the PH Project Information Form, please contact prudence@passivehousece.org. Thank you!

Prudence Ferreira
President - Passive House CA

LEED for Homes meets Passive House

Celebrate the making of Blue2, the first new Passive House in California, which will also be a Certified LEED Home and GreenPoint Rated. It is a super low-energy, affordable housing unit. Please join us:

Thursday, July 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Please RSVP and pay in advance at http://clam2openhouse.eventbrite.com
Contact clamtour@passivehouseca.org with questions

$10 for members of organizations noted below (membership will be verified) | $15 for all others

Participating organizations:

• Passive House California (PHCA)
• USGBC Redwood Empire Chapter (USGBC-REC)
• USGBC Northern California Chapter (USGBC-NCC)
• Build It Green 
• Green Chamber of Commerce

Location

Blue2 House
11560 California 1
Pt Reyes Station, CA 94956

Please park next door at West Marin School

NOTE: This is a home. Please, no random site visits.

View Larger Map 

Celebrate the near completion of Blue2, the first new Passive House in California, with the non-profit, grassroots affordable housing developer CLAM. Blue2 will also be LEED Certified and GreenPoint Rated. Passive House complements both LEED and GPR by providing a predictable and reliable path to low energy and small carbon footprint buildings for not only houses, but all building types. Passive House and this project represent a new paradigm for affordable housing as it locks in affordability forever. These buildings are cost effective, great for the environment, and provide the highest quality indoor air and occupant comfort. This marks the next step of a new way of building that is arising.

Passive House is the German system of super low energy buildings that essentially have no furnace, and instead heat themselves with saved heat from the occupants and appliances. The European Union has almost 20,000 Passive House buildings built, and they are considering making it their required building code. The U.S. has about a dozen Passive House buildings. Passive House is twice as energy efficient as ENERGY STAR, and all buildings in Austria, where there is one Passive House for every six people, surpass ENERGY STAR.

This will be a mixer for Passive House California, USGBC-REC, USGBC-NCC, Build It Green, Green Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations. The architect and builder will present a short technical overview of what makes this a Passive House, and Prudence Ferreira will discuss the relationship between LEED and Green Point Rated and Passive House, and there will be other speakers as well. Please spread the word and join the celebration of this momentous occasion!

NOTE: If you are not able to make this date, CLAM, the non-profit affordable housing developer of Blue2, will be having a more formal celebration on July 5.

To learn more

CLAM: www.clam-ptreyes.org
Blue2: http://clam-bluehouseblog.blogspot.com
Passive House Institute U.S.: www.passivehouse.us
Passive House California: www.passivehouseca.org

Passive House Meets Affordable Housing

Please Join CLAM (Community Land Trust Association of West Marin)
Monday, July 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, please email clamtour@passivehouseCA.org
This event is free and open to all.

--> Download Blue2 Open House flyer

CLAM will have a formal Open House Celebration starting at 11:00 a.m., and the architect and builder will present a short technical overview of what makes this a Passive House after that ends. Please spread the word and join the celebration of this momentous occasion!

NOTE: If you are not able to make this date, come see the house at the Blue2 Green Building Mixer on July 8.

Location

Blue2 House
11560 California 1
Pt Reyes Station, CA 94956

Please park next door at West Marin School
NOTE: This is a home. Please, no random site visits.

View Larger Map

Blue2 and Passive House

Passive House is the German system of super low energy buildings that essentially have no furnace, and instead heat themselves with saved heat from the occupants and appliances. The European Union has almost 20,000 of these built, and they are considering making it their required building code, whereas there are about a dozen built in the US. A Passive House typically uses less than half the energy of an ENERGY STAR house and is the low cost path to net zero energy buildings, meeting California’s Green House Gas Reduction AB 32 targets, and exceeding thresholds proposed in the CA PUC's Long-term Strategic Plan.

Additionally, Passive House buildings are cost effective to construct as they rely on inexpensive efficiency measures, not less effective equipment, and cost effective to run as they have such low heating and energy requirements. Because of their low carbon footprint, they are great for the environment. Passive Houses have the highest quality indoor air as they are constantly supplied fresh tempered air and old air is constantly flushed. As the temperature is constant, they have superior occupant satisfaction and comfort. This marks the beginning of a new way of building in the US.

Blue2 is an affordable housing unit developed by CLAM, the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin. CLAM is linking sustainability with its mission of affordability. By adopting the Passive House standard, they have a building with low energy costs that will lock in affordability forever, built with low construction costs. Over half the funds for this project were raised by local, personal donations.

Besides seeking Passive House certification, Blue2 is also seeking LEED Homes and GreenPoint Rated certifications. It is showing how these green metrics are complementary, with Passive House addressing the low energy aspect that the others have not had the tools to address.

Blue2 is the second unit beside the Blue1 house, which was renovated to deep energy reductions using Passive House standards. Together, they are a small island of energy efficiency that will have lasting impact.

To learn more

CLAM: www.clam-ptreyes.org
Blue2: http://clam-bluehouseblog.blogspot.com
Passive House Institute U.S.: www.passivehouse.us
Passive House California: www.passivehouseca.org

We hope you can join us to connect with other Passive House advocates and sign on to help one or more of our Committees achieve their goals. And, please consider becoming a Passive Buildings California member before the meeting so you can leave your checkbook at home for the rest of 2010! Learn more and sign up here.

Place: Pyramid Brewery Conference Room: 901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Meeting Fee: $10 helps cover the venue cost and gets you a beer or other beverage.

3:00-3:30PM New Participants: Welcome and Introduction

1. What is the Passive House standard?
2. What is the Passive House California group, and how is it structured?

3:30-4:50PM All Participants

1. Welcome and introductions to Board of Directors
2. New attendee introductions
3. Committee updates
   
   • Education
   • Advocacy
   • Development
   • Marketing
4. General updates& special announcements
   • 2010 West Coast Green & Passive House Open House: info & solicitation for volunteers
   • 2010 U.S. Passive House Conference reminder: November 4-7, 2010, Portland (tentative)
   • Other announcements
5. Educational presentation: 
   • 14th International Passive House Conference (Dresden, Germany) debrief (Lowell Moulton & Mary James, 40min)
   • Next month: topic & speaker TBD
6. Closing:
   • Next meeting Sunday, July 11, Pyramid Brewery Conference Room

Then, stick around for a special extended PHPP study session, or just general networking and another beer!

5 1/2 light bulbs (550 watts) is what it takes to heat the new Blue2 house during the coldest day of the year.

CLAM's Blue2 is designed to be the first new certified Passive House in California, an affordable, energy efficient, low carbon house with superior health and comfort. Blue2 is now under construction. Over 140 people came to Tour 1 to see how a Passive House is insulated--now we’re ready for Tour 2!

Tour 2: See the Machine

See the integrated solar and heat recovery ventilator (HRV) mechanical system. The solar hot water system supplies 80% or more of the space and water heating requirements.

• Friday, 5/21 12:00-1:00PM and 4:00-5:00PM
• Saturday, 5/22 10:00-11:00AM and 12:00-1:00PM

Reservations and Notification

Space is limited. Please sign up at http://CLAM.eventbee.com/event?eid=722734342 . We are requesting a $10 donation to the project, and no one will be turned away (for scholarship contact CLAM at 415.663.1005, info@clam-ptreyes.org).

NOTE: This is a home and construction site. No random visits. Please respect the established tour times and dates.

Location

Address will be available when you register at http://CLAM.eventbee.com/event?eid=722734342

--> View flyer for full information

Tour 3: See the House

If you are interested in how incredible it feels to live here once the house is complete, sign up for this tour. (June, dates TBD)

PLEASE NOTE revised meeting date--meeting has been moved to May 16 in honor of Mother's Day

We hope you can join us to connect with other Passive House advocates and sign on to help one or more of the revamped Committees achieve their goals. And, please consider becoming a  Passive Buildings California member before the meeting so you can leave your checkbook at home for the rest of 2010! Learn more and sign up here.

Place: Pyramid Brewery Conference Room: 901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Meeting Fee: $10 helps cover the venue cost and gets you a beer or other beverage.

3:00-3:30PM New Participants: Welcome and Introduction

1. What is the Passive House standard?
2. What is the Passive Buildings California group, and how is it structured?

3:30-4:50PM All Participants

1. Welcome and introductions to Board of Directors
2. Committee updates
   
   • Education
   • Advocacy
   • Development
   • Marketing
3. General updates
   • ACI Conference debrief
   • Fussball Festival debrief
   • 2010 U.S. Passive House Conference reminder: November 4-7, 2010, city TBD
   • Other announcements
4. Educational presentation: 
   • The CLAM Blue2 Passive House: Design to Construction (James Bill, Lowell Moulton & Terry Norbye, 40min)
   • Next month: topic & speaker TBD
5. Closing:
   • Next meeting Sunday, June 13, Pyramid Brewery Conference Room

Then, stick around for a special extended PHPP study session, or just general networking and another beer!

• Join Mike and Katrin for an evening of Fussball and fun
• Hear about the latest in Passive House developments and new PHIUS services
• Learn how the Passive Buildings California group can help promote Passive House

Date: Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Time: 6pm - late
Place: Quantum Builders warehouse - 1454B 4th St, Berkeley (access from behind the building, off Jones St. at railway tracks.)

This is a POTLUCK--bring sausages and beer. We'll do the salads!

Questions? Call Bronwyn Barry at (510) 375-2123

Update:

A few spaces are still available for this training. If you're ready to apply deep energy design principles to your projects and become a Certified Passive House Consultant, we encourage you to apply! Please visit the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) website for additional details and next steps. Also, for local Chapter members, PHIUS is generously offering a training discount ($50 per phase, $150 for the series).

**

PHIUS is returning to Berkeley to offer the 2nd Annual Spring-Summer series of classes on Passive House principles to building professionals, the first step in becoming a Certified Passive House Consultant. Training dates have also been set for Seattle, WA and Golden, CO.

The 9-day program (divided into 3, 3-day sessions) is an overview of:

• Principles of Passive House Design: Heat Transfer, Airtightness, Super-insulation, Ventilation and Moisture Control
• Instruction in the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), the powerful and precise energy modeling software
• Mechanical Systems
• Construction Examples
• Materials Selection
• Quality Assurance