The Building Science of Health and Comfort:

A Movement to Radically Transform

How We Build Oakland

Bronwyn Barry
Design Director, One Sky Homes
Director, Passive House California
Co-President, North American Passive House Network

JANUARY 2015 ROTARY

https://dabrownstein.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/more-better-mapping-of-oaklands-populations/
 THERMODYNAMICS
(NOT A NEW EXERCISE REGIMEN)
A branch of physics
concerned with
• heat and
• temperature
and their relation to
• energy and
• work.

Defined by Lord Kelvin as:

"Thermo-dynamics is the
subject of the relation of heat
to forces acting between
contiguous parts of bodies,
and the relation of heat to
electrical agency."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics
 BASIC LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS
(& MOST OF OUR BUILDINGS)

1. First law of thermodynamics: The increase in internal

energy of a closed system is equal to the difference of the
heat supplied to the system and the work done by it: ΔU =
Q - W [74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84] (Note
that due to the ambiguity of what constitutes positive
work, some sources state that ΔU = Q + W, in which case CLIFF NOTES:
work done on the system is positive.)
HEAT FLOWS FROM
2. Second law of thermodynamics: Heat cannot HOT TO COLD
spontaneously flow from a colder location to a hotter
location. HEAT TRANSFER
HAPPENS VIA:
3. Third law of thermodynamics: As a system approaches • CONDUCTION
absolute zero the entropy of the system approaches a • CONVECTION
minimum value. • RADIATION

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics#Laws_of_thermodynamics
 THIS IS YOUR HOUSE|OFFICE
(& MOST OF OUR BUILDING STOCK)

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

• Surface temperature
differences
• Internal and external
temperature differences
70 F 1 59 F • Radiant surface temperature
5 differences
52 F
WHAT DOES THAT CREATE?

• Radiant discomfort
• Convective currents (internal
drafts)
• A need to mechanically heat
and cool the space
• Mold potential
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
 OUR FRIEND POVL OLE FANGER
Pioneered the study of (DANISH DUDE WITH A BAD HAIRCUT)
Thermal Comfort

Linked poor indoor air quality to

• Asthma in children
• Poor productivity in workplaces

His work still defines HVAC and he

invented indoor air quality units:
• Olf (strength of pollution source)
• Decipol (perceived air quality)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Povl_Ole_Fanger
 HOW TO BUILD FOR COMFORT
(A RADICAL CONSPIRACY)

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

• Internal and external

temperature differences
• Even surface temperatures
• Reduced radiant surface
62 F temperature differences

70 F WHAT DOES THAT CREATE?

52 F
• Radical COMFORT
• No convective currents (draft-
free)
• Very small mechanical input
to heat and cool the space
• Mold-free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
 ONE MORE FOREIGN DUDE
Founder of the Passive House Institute (DR. WOLFGANG FEIST)

Transformed the design of thermal comfort

into a building standard.

• Developed tools that anyone could use

• Inspired 30,000 comfortable buildings
• Made this methodology available around
the world

Defined Passive House:

“A Passive House is a building, for which
thermal comfort (ISO 7730) can be
achieved solely by post-heating or post-
cooling of the fresh air mass, which is
required to achieve sufficient indoor air
quality conditions – without the need for
additional recirculation of air.”
http://passipedia.org/basics/the_passive_house_-_definition
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN OAKLAND?
(& OTHER PLACES IN CALIFORNIA)

RETROFITS:

• Arizona Street Garage

Conversion
• Laney College Ashton Street
Renovation

COMING SOON:

• Laney College BEST Center

built to Passive House
• Passive House windows built
in Oakland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN CALIFORNIA?
(& OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
 WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFO?

Passive House Institute (International Certifying Body):

(Visit www.passivehouse.com to view the growing list.)

Accredited North American trainers and certifiers:

North American Advocacy Groups:

Bronwyn Barry
@PassiveHouseBB
passivehouseBB@gmail.com

Local Advocacy Organization:

THANKS
www.passivehousecal.org www.oneskyhomes.com