Passive Buildings California Meeting Minutes

February 22, 2009

Babette Jee’s office in Berkeley

A. New attendees were greeted by Bronwyn

They were presented an introduction to the basics of Passive House by Nabih and Bronwyn. The group structure and committees were also described.

New attendees were:

• Alice La Pierre, city of Berkeley – Building Science specialist
  
• Dimitri Ozeransky, - a structural engineer working on green engineering, fly ash concrete, performance based engineering
• Don Babbitt – Heartwood Communities
• Johannes Stimming – a Berkeley builder trying to get several passive houses built in near future
• Richard Norris - engineer and leak expert
• Alexandra Saikley – a preservationist architect
• Jesus Santos – grad student SF State interested in PH principles for Texas
• Nick Gerstner - local architect looking for general info
  
• David Hingston - interested in deep energy retrofit in Northwest
• Lowell Moulton - local remodeler who has taken the PH course in Champaign, Ill.
  
• Mike Hoexter - from Monterey Lighting, interested in electricity and efficiency
• Rolf Schulz - A German visitor who tried to promote passive house a few years ago
• Keith Hodge - Realtor with Green Key Real Estate
• Dennis Kim - interested in multifamily projects
  

During the discussion and introduction to PH, several interesting questions came up. In discussing source or primary energy, it was brought out that; A) we don’t have control as designers of the efficiency or “cleanliness” of source energy, B) efficiency and “dirtiness” are different things, C) Energy production efficiency and cleanliness varies around the world and even between utility districts.

The PH concept implies moving toward equitable levels of consumption of energy around the world. In other words, the PH standards are designed to be at a level that they could be implemented in high use countries to bring the energy consumption worldwide to a sustainable level, both for resource questions and for climate change questions.

B. The steering committee was introduced

Bronwyn Barry, Katy Hollbacher, Mary James, Kevin Beck, Nabih Tahan, Graham Irwin and Prudence Ferreria

C. The Mission Statement was read, as revised

It currently reads:

Our mission is to promote the knowledge required to design and construct super- low, zero-, and positive –energy buildings using the Passive House approach.

D. There were several report-backs from other meetings.

• Mary James and Kevin Beck attended the 1000 Home Challenge group/ ACI. This approach calls for “deep energy retrofits”; with a goal to reduce energy use in houses by 75%… They are discussing Green Home Energy rebates in future. Also they are developing a household energy calculator—not launched yet. Their approach differs somewhat from the PH approach; they consider behavior, residential density, and site generation (e.g., PV solar) in their challenge.
  
• Katy Hollbacher reported back on the set-up of the website for the group: www.passivehouseca.org and demonstrated its use. A public forum tool was just installed, and the website will facilitate traffic between committees and groups within the larger group.
  
• George Nesbitt reported that he attended a GreenPoint Rating conference, at which there was much discussion of the Obama stimulus package. He mentioned that EnergyStar 2011 will be coming out soon.
  
• Prudence Ferreira reported that the USGBC Redwood Empire group met, and she is advocating for the passive house concept there. There needs to be a passive house that applies for LEED, so that there will be a precedent in its rating system, both as regards EA-1 energy points, and innovation credits.
  
• Dan Johnson reported that the google group on construction details is moving forward. The address is: http://groups.google.com/group/phcdca… It will be moved into the Forums on the www.passivehouseca.org site in the near future.
  

E. “Energy Literacy” power point presentation by Graham Irwin

Graham’s presentation will be available on the website. There was lively discussion of the relative values of energy sources in future (gas, electric, PV, hydro, etc.), and the folly of producing our way to meet current excessive consumption. He ended up the talk with a parable for humility as we seek to find answers: The story of the Greek philosopher Diogenes, who pursued simplicity and efficiency to the degree that he lived in a barrel, and drank his water from a broken cup. He was crestfallen when he saw a child drinking water from his cupped hands. He said “ I have been outdone by a child!”

Our next meeting will be Sunday, March 22 at Babette Jee’s Office, 950 Gilman, Suite 210 Berkeley

New attendees: 3 o’ clock, main meeting 3:30

Minutes prepared by Chris Polk