How Can You Find the Best Passive House Builders?

 Getting a passive house built is a hectic task as is finding the right passive house builder to get the job done in the best possible manner. There are a number of things that you need to be aware of in terms of hiring the right passive house builder to get your energy efficient home built without any hassle. In this piece, we will have a look at a few of the most important things that you need to be aware of in terms of ensuring that the job of finding the right passive house builders in Melbourne is done in the best possible manner. So if you are looking to make sure that the task of hiring the right company for the job of getting your passive house built is done in the most convenient manner, make sure to keep these points in your mind. 

Past performance 

The very first thing that you need to check when it comes to opting for the right passive house builder is to look at the past performance of the professional whom you are selecting to get the job done in the best possible manner. Comparing the past performances of the various passive house builders will certainly help you to make sure whom you want to select to get the job done. 

Certification

Another very important point that you need to be aware of in terms of hiring the best from a long list of passive house builders in Melbourne is to understand whether he holds a certificate or not. A builder with a valid certificate will provide you with ample confidence that you are hiring the right professional to get the job of building an energy efficient home done in the most convenient manner. 

Clarity of knowledge

It is extremely important for a passive house builder to have ample clarity of knowledge regarding the various things like insulation and the concepts of building an airtight home, which is extremely important in terms of ensuring that the job of constructing a passive house is done in the best possible manner. So make sure to check the clarity of knowledge of the professional you are hiring for the job of getting a passive house built. 

From the above lines, we get a clear idea of the various things that you need to be aware of in terms of ensuring that the job of finding the best passive house builders near me is done in the best possible manner. Pondering upon these points will be helpful in your endeavour for sure.

4 Fallacies about Passive Houses That People Still Believe

 Many fallacies concerning the passive house concept arise when people hear the phrase "Passive House”. Some people try to denigrate this method of construction because they either don't apprehend it or aren't prepared to change. There are many fallacies about passive houses, but here are a few of the most common ones.

• You can’t open your passive house windows 

Who desires to live in a building that doesn't have windows? Obviously, the windows open, but this is less essential in traditional buildings without a ventilation system. You must also request your passive house builders in Melbourne to install fully accessible windows. This allows for significant cooling of the house during the hot summer nights.

• Passive buildings are very expensive 

As passive homes have risen in popularity and materials available around the world, they have become much more accessible. In certain circumstances, the cost of constructing a passive house is comparable to, or even less than, that of traditional buildings. Because of the long-term savings linked with power use, this is feasible.

Passive houses can save up to 90% of the energy used in traditional construction, resulting in yearly cost savings.

• Passive buildings are ugly 

The phrase "beautiful" or "ugly" is subjective. Passive houses can be created in any design; significant numbers have already been developed in various architectural designs around the world. It's critical to know that a passive house is a concept, not a design aesthetic, which means that residents can build any home they want.

• Because the windows in passive houses do not open, the air is stagnant

This is true for all conventional structures. CO2 levels are excessively high, necessitating window openings for ventilation. This results in the houses being drained in the wintertime and heated even more in the summertime. The ventilation system inside a passive house is based on the recovering concept and provides constant clean air. Because passive buildings are properly sealed and insulated, the ventilation system is capable of maintaining a consistent temperature across the year.

These are the 4 fallacies about passive houses that people still believe. If you like this piece of content, share it with your friends, and get back to us for more exciting posts! 

Misconceptions You Should Ward off While Building an Energy Efficient Home

 Building any home, especially an energy-efficient one, can be an arduous task. Finding the right materials and the right builder to get the job done can be quite a challenge for anyone. There are a number of misconceptions that cloud the mindset and decision-making of a person who is looking to opt for an energy-efficient home. In this piece, we will have a look at a few of the biggest misconceptions that you need to ward off while looking to build an energy-efficient home in the future. Keeping these points in mind will certainly help you immensely when you make the decision to build an energy-efficient home in the best possible manner. 

Ugliness

The biggest misconception that people bear in their minds about energy-efficient homes is that they are ugly in appearance. In reality, energy-efficient homes look far from being ugly, thus adding a modern touch to the lifestyle of the person who is opting for it along with his/her family. So make sure to keep this misconception out of your head while looking to opt for an energy-efficient home in the future.

Width of walls

Another misconception that you need to be aware of and get rid of while building an energy-efficient home is that the width of the walls is too much in such residences. People are also of the opinion that the residents of a passive house can utilize the extra wall space in any other way. However, the walls of an energy-efficient home near me are not at all as thick as people assume them to be, which is why it is important for you to make sure that you ward off this misconception about building an energy-efficient home.

Modern trend

It goes without saying that the benefits that one can derive from the construction of an energy-efficient home are growing by the day. So people who term it as just a modern trend followed by a section of the society are completely mistaken and this misconception should be dealt with.

The above description provides us with a clear idea of the various misconceptions that you need to be aware of and ward off while opting to build an energy-efficient home in the future. So if you are looking to provide your family with a place for better living, make sure to turn a deaf ear to the misconceptions and get an energy-efficient home built.

Priority Air Sealing Locations for Energy Efficient Home

In order for a building to be energy-efficient, it must be air-sealed. It is vital for energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and durability of buildings to reduce air leakage. The framing of a building is crucial for airtightness. Joints and openings must be properly sealed to ensure proper air sealing of building enclosures. The extent to which each joint or leak contributes to air leakage is not always the same. Using some airtight tapes wraps is only recommended where there is sufficient provision for sealing. 

Stack Effect Is The Starting Point

There are some leakage points that are riskier than others. A good air sealing strategy must take account of these. The stack effect is directly responsible for many of these leakage points. Due to stack effect, the process of warm air rises from the lower level and gets out through the upper-level leakage points. Through the lower-level windows or openings, it sucks air into the building. 

Sealing these entry points in lower levels and exit points of upper level will make sure that the building resistant of stack point. These openings come in different sizes, that is why it is important to seal every small opening in wall or other places. Air tight wraps are especially suitable for this kind of air-sealing.

Most Convenient Locations For Air Sealing

To make your house totally air sealed house, you need proper planning and strategy to put sealings on leakage points. According to the needs of the buildings, builders use different sealing material like high grade caulk, canned foam sealing tape or a gasket tape to prevent air from flowing out where it’s need is paramount. It’s better to list down the points where you need air sealing immediately. Passive house builders in Melbourne

can help you plan and budget better as they have great knowledge about air-sealing.

Researchers have identified the leakage points on a simple single-family home's thermal envelope and analyzed them with an estimate of the total expenditure required. Among the most important air sealing locations, the following five have been identified as the most likely to reduce air leakage:

1. Top plate to attic drywall: - According to research, an important source of air flow happens through gaps in attic walls. This is the most significant source of leakage, which contributes to great stack effect.
2. Recessed lights to finished surface: - Although recessed lights are branded to be air-tight, a considerable amount of air passed through gaps of the light. Air tights wrapped around the light will solve the problem.

• Duct boot to finished surface: - In areas below the basement that are not maintained well, air sealing is especially important. When placed in an unconditioned area, the duct, boot, and underfloor have to be airtight.

• Band joist (top and bottom: - Band joists should be properly insulated because they can crack. Band joists are also placed above the foundation wall, which means air can enter from the low level.

1. Between house and garage wall: When you build your house and garage, it is important to ensure that the spaces between them are airtight. As well as reducing the stack effect, this prevents contaminants from entering your living space.

These are some of the highlighting factors to be aware of while you're sealing a deal with any passive house builders in Melbourne.

What Are the Main Standards of a Passive House Design?

Passive House Design is a term that refers to conscious design techniques that help reduce a building's energy consumption and often use reusable energy. Passive Houses accomplish their objective of hyper-efficiency by creating and developing highly insulated building envelopes. Passive House Designs should also include other components that help limit emissions while still generating energy-efficient heating and cooling for its residents, such as solar energy and geothermal energy. Reducing energy usage is good for cutting energy and appliance costs. It is possible to cut energy consumption as well as your energy bill with an energy-efficient home while staying environmentally aware. The following are the primary passive house design criteria:

• Proper insulation - Proper insulation reduces the amount of energy and heat that leaves the house through places such as window glass. Passive house builders in Melbourne seek to trap as much heat as possible to reduce the need for heating systems that circulate hot air inside, wasting energy.

• No air leakages - Similarly to the concept above, the objective here is to confine air & heat that is better used within the house rather than allowing it to escape.

• Proper positioning - This standard governs the location of windows and ventilation systems. The strategy makes use of the sun's natural heat to allow heat to enter a home, and when it's warm outside, it also helps keep cool air inside.

• No thermal bridges - In this instance, architects and engineers must be aware of the heat that may quickly pass through walls and other boundaries. This may be addressed by making good use of design.

• HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) - This component allows fresh air to flow while blocking heat from escaping. Some buildings have even incorporated advanced ventilation systems that circulate air inside and outside of homes by extracting and transferring hot air to different portions of the building. This revolutionary method is used by passive home suppliers to create pleasant heating while emitting CO2.
• Proper windows - Windows are great attractions for heat to dissipate, and adding triple-pane glass windows will provide insulation not only for warm days but also for cold winter days.

This in-depth study of passive house design standards should be of great use to you. If you find this piece of content useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends, and get back to us for more exciting posts! 

Use These Popular Options to Heat a Passive House This Winter

A misconception about passive houses is that they can generate heat on their own. In the real world, they are created to guarantee maximum retention of any generated heat – but the heat still must come from somewhere. A passive house needs 15kWh of space heating energy per square meter of living space per year, which can pose a challenge as seen after predicting the demand of all other building aspects. So, you must choose a product from the Melbourne house builders that can provide the necessary heat, without compromising the energy efficiency standard. Scroll down and take a look at the most popular options that can heat a passive house this winter.

Electric post-heater

An electric post heater, which is typically duct mounted, is used in combination with a heat recovery ventilation system (MVHR) to heat the supply air as it exits the unit.

Hot water post-heater

The hot water post-heater, like its electric counterpart, is fitted within the supply duct. The main benefit of it includes a steady integration with domestic hot water heating systems, as well as using limited space and reacting the MVHR temperature changes.

Solar heating

Solar heating is another option worth considering. Solar heating accumulates heat from the sun and transfers it to stored water in a hot water cylinder using fitted panels known as collectors. This roof-mounted solution has low operating costs and is versatile.This is a must-have option for an energy efficient home.

Electric panel heaters

Electric panel heaters offer instant heat to a room and are a "plug-and-play" heating solution, which has proven pretty important when it comes to refurbishment projects. Electric panel heaters could also be used as towel heaters in the bathroom.

Gas boiler

Gas boilers, which most passive house builders in Melbourne are familiar with, are a conventional and user-friendly solution both for heating and domestic hot water. With a limited initial investment, gas boilers include a wide range of heat distribution choices, from designer radiators to underfloor heating and towel racks.

Ground source heat pump (GSHP)

It is a low-cost heating and cooling system with high thermal efficiency. In the winter, GSHPs use the relatively constant earth's temperature as a heat source.

These are the most popular options to heat a passive house during the winter season. If you find the content of this blog useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends, and get back to us for more exciting content!

The Use of Different Types of Airtight Wraps Tapes in Construction Work

 Airtight wraps tapes are high-performance building tapes that are designed to seal overlaps, connections between multiple building components and gaps. These tapes are used when a building is renovated or constructed for everlasting airtight bonding between component joints, vapour control layers, component layers, and various other materials. One main reason these tapes have evolved is to make sure modern homes remain insulated. Apart from their high performance, these tapes are also very lightweight and user-friendly when it comes to sealing different types of building overlaps, connections, and joints. This level of airtightness makes for an effective building envelope.

Sealing junctions, joints, overlaps, and seams require the use of multiple types of building materials, as well as the usage of different types of adhesive tapes. The airtight wraps tapes used in construction are intended to seal the connections inside and keep things watertight. Builders can use them to seal the moisture barriers found on plywood sheathing. The different types of airtight wraps tapes include the following:

1. Rigid fiberglass duct board / flexible air duct

These envelopes are often made of aluminum foil.

2. Metal / sheet metal applications

There are various types of wraps tapes available for construction purposes, and these are used to cover up ductwork joints and other areas where sheet metal joining or overlaps are being used.

3. Sheathing

This type of building tape is specifically meant for plywood sheathing or can be used around wood.

4. House wrapping

This is an airtight tape with adhesive on both sides that is used on overlapping and the moisture barrier. The distinctive feature of this type of adhesive tape is that it prevents moisture or traces of water from reaching the main structure.

5. Vapour barriers

This, too, is a two-sided adhesive tape that is perfect for bridging vapour barriers and cement walls in crawl spaces. The main reason for using vapour barriers is to prevent moisture or water from entering basements and crawl spaces.

6. Insulation

These are definitely the high-performance airtight tapes that are in high demand and are used to guarantee that engineers can achieve an insulation system that adheres to walls or is placed where they are installed.

7. Outdoor component layers

This is a type of construction tape that has both diffusible and rainproof properties in order to accomplish permanent tight bonding between the component layers.

Hope, you came to know the different types of airtight wraps tapes used in construction work. This is all you can know about airtight wraps tapes, which are highly preferred when it comes to the construction of passive buildings. If you find the content of this article helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends, and get back to us for more exciting content!