Page 36 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes-Volume 2

CASE STUDY NO. 7 PERLITA PASSIVE HOUSE
Perlita Passive House
Case Study No. 7
Data Summary Building Type:
Single-Family (Renovation)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Gross Floor Area:
2,120 gross sq. ft. (Unheated spaces not included.)
The second case study in this Volume 2, like that of Volume 1 of Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes, is a major renovation of an existing house. As noted in the first book, a renovation project must deal with existing construction, less-than-optimal features affecting energy-efficiency and (often) labor-intensive correction of code deficiencies. Because of these factors, there is often a marginal cost savings in renovation versus new construction. But there are sustainability and embodied carbon1 considerations in the re-use of an existing structure that are factors in the decision to renovate rather than build new.
The Perlita Passive House is also of interest as a case study because it meets the Passive House Standards at the same time that it uses an existing house with mid-twentieth century construction methods. Application of the highly energy-efficient techniques required for Passive House certification2 is instructive in comparison to other types of ZNE houses described in the Volume 1.
Background
The owners had built a new house on a lot in France, finishing construction in 2008.Three years afterward, they discovered the Passive House Standard and that particular approach to building an energy-efficient house. Suddenly, all the shortcomings of their original project were apparent. When they moved to Los Angeles in 2015, they embraced the Passive House methodology of
1 articles/70446-ten-steps-to-reducing-embodied-carbon.
Occupied: December 2018
On-Site Renewable Energy System Installed:
5.76 kW (DC) Solar PV
On-Site Storage Battery
14 kWh Tesla Powerwall
Measured On-Site Energy Production:
9,600 kWh per year 15.6 kBtu/sq.ft. per year
Pre-Occupancy Calculated EUI (Site):
9.5 kBtu/sq.ft. per year
Measured EUI (Site):
12.0 kBtu/sq.ft. per year
Owner/Client
Shelle Higgins Xavier Gaucher
Project Team
Architect:
Eve Reynolds, Arcolution, Los Angeles, CA
Mechanical Engineer: Xavier Gaucher
Structural Engineer:
L. Strain, “Ten Steps to Reducing Embodied Carbon”, (Mar., 2017), https://www.aia.org/
2 For a description of the Standards for Passive House certification, see: https://www.passive-
house-international.org/index.php?page_id=150
Henry Downey, HRD Engi- ineering, North Hollywood, CA
Certified Passive House Con- sultant (CPHC):
Xavier Gaucher
Landscape Architect:
Tony Paradowski, Superja- cent, Los Angeles, CA
Construction Consultant:
Nico Design
PHOTO: XAVIER GAUCHER
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(Above) The original house, built in 1906, as viewed from the street.
Zero Net Energy Case Study Homes: Volume 2