Passive Approaches to Low-Energy Affordable

Passive low-energy design principles can be used with various construction practices, methods, and materials. The “best” choices often depend on where a project is located, the building type and design, current material prices, and the experience and preferences of the builder or developer. In general, however, many of the passive, low-energy affordable housing projects tended to feature common design elements and attributes, such as: ● high-performance wall systems with high levels of blown or sprayed insulation; 38x89-mm (2x4-inch) or 38x140-mm (2x6-inch) wood-frame construction with significant exterior rigid foam insulation; or structural insulated panels (SIPs); ● a focus on eliminating thermal bridges through the building envelope to minimize heat loss; ● strategically placed, high-performance triple-glazed windows with inert gas fill, thermally broken and insulated frames, warm edge spacers, low-emissivity coatings, multiple airtight seals, and external shading; ● an airtight building envelope with a minimum airtightness of 0 .6 ACH50; and ● heat recovery or energy recovery ventilators (HRVs or ERVs) to improve indoor air quality while saving energy and lowering costs. Also Read: Losing California's Unsubsidized Affordable Homes