What is passive house?

•  A passive house is a building in which a comfortable interior climatecan be maintained without active heating and cooling systems.
•  The house heats and cools itself, hence “passive”.
• cost-effective
• Passive design is design that does not require mechanical heating or   cooling.
• Homes that are passively designed take advantage of natural energy flows to maintain thermal comfort.

Following are the basic features that distinguish passive house construction:

• Compact form and good insulation.
• Southern orientation and shade considerations {0.15 W/(m²K) }
• Energy-efficient window glazing and frames {0.80 W/(m²K) , 50% }
• Passive preheating of fresh air (above 5°C )
• Hot water supply using regenerative energy sources

Incorporating the principles of passive design :

• Significantly improves comfort.
• Reduces or eliminates heating and cooling bills.
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical  ventilation and lighting.

INTRODUCTION :

• location & area : The house is near the middle of 60 acre southwest of Jacksonville , North Florida.
• Designed by: Randy Cullom & his wife  L.Elizabeth

What is the climate of north Florida?

• From mid-April to mid-October is generally hot and humid.
• Daytime temperature varies from 90 – 70 *f.
• Cool nights and warm, but not hot, days, and low to    moderate humidity.
• December and January can be cold, with several to about a dozen freezing spells.
• Rainfall is more uniform throughout the year in northern Florida.
• Cool season rainfall (meaning the 6 months from mid-October until mid-April), from 2″ to 4″ per month.       

Features:

• South-facing windows and doors
• Windows are designed to reflect heat
• No flat ceilings to allow air to stagnate
• Both parts of the house are very open• windows or doors on each wall for good cross-ventilation.
• Isolate the hot, humid kitchen and bath areas from the remaining living space
• A cupola provides a very efficient way to bring natural light inside without allowing direct radiation to enter the house.
• Most important building material in house is wood ( timber )
• Cistern which can be used to collect rainwater for all household water needs
• No fossil fuels
• Use of the Composting Toilet (black water and gray water)
• In a typical household, 35 to 45% of all household potable water is flushed down the toilet
• Wooden cook stove
•  Hot water for household use is mainly provided by a solar collector.
• Able to generate a current or voltage when exposed to visible light or other electromagnetic radiation

The two-story greenhouse :

• Temperature-moderating thermal mass .
• Passive solar heating in the winter.
• Open to the kitchen .
• Food production.
• 2500 square foot organic garden.
• High level openable windows capture winter sun & create cooling currents in summer.
• No Stagnancy of wind