Page 18 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes-Volume 2

CASE STUDY NO. 6 PASSIVE HOUSE LOS ANGELES (PHLA+)
Passive House Los Angeles (PHLA+)
Case Study No. 6
Data Summary Building Type:
Single-Family (New)
Location: Culver City, CA
Gross Floor Area:
2,038 gross sq.ft. (1,750 sq.ft. conditioned)
Occupied: December 2018
On-Site Renewable Energy System Installed:
5.36 kW (DC) Solar PV
On-Site Storage Battery:
14 kWh Tesla Powerwall
Measured On-Site Energy Production:
7,700 kWh per year 13.0 kBtu/sq.ft. per year
(estimated from 7 months of data, 03/2019-09/2019)
Pre-Occupancy Calculated EUI (Site):
7.0 kBtu/sq.ft. per year
Measured EUI (Site):
10.2 kBtu/sq.ft. per year (estimated from 7 months of data, 03/2019-09/2019)
Owner/Client
Christian Kienapfel, AIA, CPHC, LEED-AP
Project Team
Architect:
PARAVANT Architects, Culver City, CA
Mechanical Engineering:
Zehnder America and Mitsubishi technical support
As in Volume 1 of Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes, it is simplest to start first with the case study of a new single-family house—built with new materials, modern construction methods and conforming to current residential building codes. In the first case study of this Volume 2 (the 6th in the series of case studies in both volumes), there is the added characteristic that it is also a second, detached house that exists on one lot with another house. Since many municipalities are now allowing a second dwelling unit on a single lot in certain zones as a means of creating more housing availability, it is valuable to see the practical effects on solar access and design for energy-use optimization of the increased density in semi-urban neighborhoods.
Background
The owner had purchased a post-war ranch-style house in 2013 on a duplex parcel in Culver City (zoned R-3)1, located near the coast within the greater Los Angeles area. The project came about from the desire to build a zero-net-energy (ZNE) home as a second dwelling unit on the property, which would also be a demonstration of the application of Passive House2 principles to the design and construction of the structure. When the new house was completed, the plan was that the owner would then move into it and turn the existing house fronting the street into a rental unit. (This is the reverse of the usual practice of building a rental unit in the rear yard as a second dwelling unit.)
1 In this case, two single family residences on a multifamily-zoned property.
2 Passive House Is a standard for the design of energy-efficient, healthy and sustainable houses. See: https://www.passivehouse-international.org/index.php?page_id=78.
(Above) View to the north of the neighborhood homes, with downtown Los Angeles in the dis- tance. (Photo by Fraser Almeida)
Certified Passive House Con- sultant (CPHC):
Sylvia Wallis, AIA, Los Angeles, CA
HERS Rater and Blwer-Door Test:
Dav Camras, Los Angeles, CA
General Contractor:
Guillermo Delgadillo & Associates, Montebello, CA
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Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes: Volume 2