At Enduro Builders, we take pride in designing homes that combine cutting-edge energy efficiency with practical, cost-effective solutions. One of our most insightful projects was our Certified Passivhaus display home, where we used the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) to guide key decisions. Here’s how PHPP helped us make an informed choice about cooling demand and shading that saved significant costs without compromising comfort or performance.
Understanding the Challenge: Balancing Heating and Cooling Demands
Our display home is located in the Adelaide Hills, an area with significant seasonal temperature variations. The home was designed with an east-facing view, which naturally reduced heating demand during winter. However, summer presented a different challenge: the cooling demand for the house was just within the Passivhaus limits.
The question arose: how could we further reduce cooling demand? We initially considered permanent shading, but this would negatively impact winter performance. Temporary shading solutions were another option and seemed promising for reducing cooling demand. However, these solutions came with a hefty price tag—around $28,000 for motorised retractable shading systems.
Using PHPP to Inform the Decision
With PHPP, we had a powerful tool to model and analyse the home’s energy performance. We input the shading solution into PHPP and calculated its impact. While it did lower the cooling demand by approximately 4 kWh/m² annually, we discovered an even more important insight: our pre-installed solar system would generate more energy on hot summer days than the air conditioning would require to cool the home.
This analysis revealed a crucial point: the additional shading wasn’t necessary. Instead of spending $28,000 on a solution we didn’t truly need, we chose to rely on the efficiency of our solar system and the well-designed building envelope to handle the cooling demand.
Results: Savings Without Sacrifice
By trusting the data from PHPP, we avoided a substantial unnecessary expense while still meeting Passivhaus standards. The home remains a shining example of energy efficiency, with low operational costs and year-round comfort. This decision underscores the importance of data-driven design in creating homes that are not only sustainable but also financially practical.
Why This Matters
This experience highlights the power of PHPP in Passivhaus projects. Unlike other systems, PHPP enables precise modelling that accounts for all aspects of a home’s energy performance. It allows builders and homeowners to make informed decisions that balance upfront costs with long-term benefits. In this case, the decision to forgo expensive shading was based on hard data, not guesswork, ensuring optimal performance and cost savings.
For us at Enduro Builders, this is the essence of building better homes: leveraging technology, data, and a commitment to quality to deliver exceptional results. By sharing these insights, we hope to inspire others to consider the measurable benefits of energy-efficient design and how thoughtful planning can lead to smarter, more sustainable homes.
