Article updated August 2024
We talk a lot about the characteristics of a high performance house, here at Blue House Energy. The building industry has evolved to incorporate high performance building practices, making it essential to address these practices in everything from the design approach to the specifications that are handed off to skilled crews.
Often, houses do not perform optimally or even as predicted by code requirements. This is due in large part to the evolution of residential construction where:
- Houses are typically field assembled
- Houses are built on a component-based approach with separate trades responsible for different pieces of the house
- No consistent process is used to identify problems or correct them
What Makes a High Performance Building?
A high performance process for building high performance houses has 3 key characteristics:
- Integrated Design Process (IDP)
- Construction Quality Management
- Commissioning
Benefits of High Performance Materials
Building components play a crucial role in achieving high performance building standards. The best practice for building a high performance house is to make all the decisions about energy conservation measures during the design stage.
This is the least expensive and most cost-effective part of the process.
Decisions can be revisited based on energy modelling and costing before construction begins. This results in a package that works for the builder and for the homeowner.
The next best time to ensure the success of energy conservation measures is during the build.
1. Integrated Design Process (IDP) for high performance buildings, home builders, and renovators
There are six primary goals and/or features to focus on at the design stage:
- Control Air Leakage
- Increase Insulation Levels
- Minimize Thermal Bridging
- Place/Size Doors and Windows Strategically
- Provide Balanced Mechanical Ventilation
- Right-size Space Conditioning and DHW Equipment
When moving towards high performance targets, builders and developers can benefit greatly by incorporating an integrated design approach that is anchored by building science, energy modelling, and proper costing data. Energy efficiency is a critical component in this process, aiming to minimize energy consumption for heating, cooling, and powering buildings.
New Home Energy Performance Requires Specialists
Some of the areas of focus that specialists add to an integrated design process are:
- Building design
- Passive Solar Energy
- Sustainability
- Structural engineering
- HVAC systems
- Lifecycle costing
- Universal design
- Building information modelling (BIM)
The conventional approach is to ‘silo’ these specialties, but integrated design brings the whole team together.
An integrated design approach is important when working towards successful high performance projects, as each specialist brings specific skills and perspectives to the table. Innovation and future proofing can be woven into passive house and net zero energy building.
There are various standards in Canada and the US for new home construction that are geared to less energy use. Passive house design and green building materials are examples of strategies that can be integrated into the IDP for better energy performance, meeting rigorous standards like airtight construction, and energy demand.
Performance Building Teams Need Strong Project Leadership
An integrated design process is driven by the project leader. The process must have buy-in from the combined design and delivery team to be successful, as the opportunities to make changes to the design and construction are most cost-effective in the first stages of design.
IDP is a coordinated effort to work through the range of sustainability, structures, heat, cooling, and ventilation systems. When the whole team understands how floor space affects window sizing, lighting, and space conditioning choices, the best approach can be developed.
CACEA (the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors) has an IDP training program for high performance houses.
2. Construction Quality Management: energy efficiency designed in BEFORE the building starts
Air, heat, and moisture flows all affect occupant safety, health, and comfort, as well as building durability. If a building component is installed incorrectly, or if a component is modified by the occupants or renovator, or when it degrades over time, there is an impact on whole-house performance and the occupants.
On the path to high performance new buildings that can mitigate climate change, construction quality management is one of the keys to reducing mistakes and reworks so projects come in on time and budget. Construction quality management plays a crucial role in achieving the significant reductions in energy demand through advanced construction techniques used to meet certifications like Passive House, CHBA's Net Zero Energy Label Program, and Built Green Canada's Net Zero Energy + program.
Sustainability and Future-Proofing Require a Competent Workforce
The success of a project depends on the capacity of construction crews and sub-trades to carry out the work. This requires continuous training and skills improvement as well as keeping up to date with current technologies, materials, and building science.
Quantifying how well a house or building performs is done through metrics.
How well the insulation and air barrier are installed, for instance, is reflected directly in the results of performance tests like blower doors and thermal imaging.
Metrics are ways to measure, assess, compare, and track performance or production. There are three areas where metrics can be used to measure safe, healthy, comfortable, and affordable house:
Energy Performance Metrics (fuel consumption, operating costs, peak demand)
Indoor Environment Metrics (indoor air quality, comfort)
Durability Metrics (material degradation, maintenance costs)
3. Commissioning: not just for big buildings, but also for energy efficiency!
A house is a complex system. To achieve high performance building standards, like passive house projects or net zero energy building, the HVAC system needs to match the reduced heating energy demands and integrate well with other green building practices.
A “commissioning” process verifies that all systems and components are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained properly.
Commissioning High Performance Buildings Ensures Concept to Finished Projects
Commissioning is part of a quality management program that can help improve a builder’s bottom line. It can also help you identify potential improvements to new build or renovation processes.
Occupant health, safety, and comfort is impacted directly by the dynamics of the house. Being able to rely on a standardized commissioning process for houses would be an excellent way avoid scheduling conflicts and reduce costs.
Unfortunately, this is not typical industry practice, yet.
Commissioning Confirms The Homeowner's Energy Savings
Commissioning should include diagnostic and performance testing on ventilation, space conditioning, and distribution systems. Ideally, it also accounts for the building envelope as well, including:
- Insulation levels and installation quality
- Airtightness
- Moisture levels
- Windows
Build Your Commissioning Strategy
You can ensure building performance without a standardized commissioning process. The critical first step is to understand the control layers and your wall, ceiling, and floor assemblies. Understanding how high performance assemblies impact first costs for construction or renovation is the key to a successful project.
Home energy advisors, auditors, and weatherization contractors can help builders succeed. Consulting an Energy Advisor in the design stage a good first step. Using software to model the energy use of the building, an Energy Advisor can show you a variety of options that ensure building performance and can help you meet an energy reduction target.
Want to learn more about Construction Quality Management?Check out our on-demand course. It's approved for 5.33 CPD points for BC Housing.
Comments (1)
Great insights! Understanding these characteristics is crucial for creating efficient buildings. Thanks for sharing!