[Greenbuilding] Link to Identifying Affordable Net-Zero-Energy Housing Solutions

[John O'Brien]

On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 8:45 AM, John Straube <jfstraube at uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> I am not sure they "know" something, but Gary was not constrained by PH
> rules.
> Their goal is to get the lowest cost solution with available technology for
> cold north american climate zones for north american housing types and
> sizes.
...
> Many PH features (developed from Canadian and US super insulation work in
> the 70's and 80's BTW) are similiar, but the more extreme ones are because
> of their unique rule set.
>
> PS.  I dont agree with all of the "optimums" in this report, mostly because
> I dont see the same costs in my work.  I also have found that some sub-slab
> insulation (even R5, although I always just spec R10) makes a huge
> difference in comfort and summer moisture, something Gary did not consider.
>

Thanks John. That last email was mostly in jest. I did find the lack
of any thermal break subslab slightly odd as well as the seemingly
insignificant value add of the high gain south facing glass.

Interesting read for sure though.

j