CLIMATE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES FOR RETROFIT INTERVENTIONS UNDER PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARDS: A CASE STUDY OF A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
As climate change intensifies, the built environment faces increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal resilience. This article investigates how retrofit interventions aligned with the Passive House (PH) standard, including its specific adaptation for retrofits known as EnerPHit, can significantly increase both energy efficiency and climate resilience in existing single-family homes in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using a mixed-methodology approach that combines a systematic review of the literature on the five fundamental principles of the Passive House with empirical data collected from a real retrofit project located in Vancouver, BC, the study demonstrates the technical feasibility and performance outcomes of applying Passive House strategies to the existing housing stock. The five principles examined are: high-performance building envelope, airtight construction, minimization of thermal bridges, high-performance glazing, and ventilation with heat recovery. The results of the case study, modeled using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and evaluated against the EnerPHit standard, indicate a potential reduction of up to 90% in energy demand for heating and cooling compared to an average single-family home in British Columbia. The findings support the argument that deep energy retrofit projects, when guided by passive house principles, represent a critical and cost-effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving occupant health, and increasing long-term housing resilience in the face of climate change.
CLIMATE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES FOR RETROFIT INTERVENTIONS UNDER PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARDS: A CASE STUDY OF A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1317652604053
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Palavras-chave: passive house; EnerPHit; energy retrofit; building envelope; climate resilience; British Columbia; thermal comfort; heat recovery ventilation.
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Keywords: passive house; EnerPHit; energy retrofit; building envelope; climate resilience; British Columbia; thermal comfort; heat recovery ventilation.
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Abstract:
As climate change intensifies, the built environment faces increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal resilience. This article investigates how retrofit interventions aligned with the Passive House (PH) standard, including its specific adaptation for retrofits known as EnerPHit, can significantly increase both energy efficiency and climate resilience in existing single-family homes in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using a mixed-methodology approach that combines a systematic review of the literature on the five fundamental principles of the Passive House with empirical data collected from a real retrofit project located in Vancouver, BC, the study demonstrates the technical feasibility and performance outcomes of applying Passive House strategies to the existing housing stock. The five principles examined are: high-performance building envelope, airtight construction, minimization of thermal bridges, high-performance glazing, and ventilation with heat recovery. The results of the case study, modeled using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and evaluated against the EnerPHit standard, indicate a potential reduction of up to 90% in energy demand for heating and cooling compared to an average single-family home in British Columbia. The findings support the argument that deep energy retrofit projects, when guided by passive house principles, represent a critical and cost-effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving occupant health, and increasing long-term housing resilience in the face of climate change.
- Fernanda Costa Teixeira
