Housing Certificates Research Articles

Quantifying the Enhanced Performance of Multifamily Residential Passive House over Conventional Buildings in Terms of Energy Use

In response to escalating energy demands and global warming concerns, the Passive House Standard has emerged as a solution in residential construction, aiming to drastically reduce energy consumption and operational costs primarily through high-performance building envelopes. While a considerable volume of the literature has focused on the Passivhaus Institute (PHI) standards, predominantly in European contexts, there is a gap in research on the Passive House Institute US (Phius) standards, particularly in North American climates. This study conducts a quantitative comparative analysis of two adjacent multifamily residential buildings in Central Pennsylvania, Climate Zone 5A—one built using conventional construction methods and the other following Passive House (PHIUS+ 2015) certification standards—to validate the energy efficiency improvements attributed to Passive House designs. A comparative analysis of the whole building energy use over two years reveals that the Passive House building consumes approximately 50% less energy than its conventional counterpart in terms of whole building energy use and the national median recommended benchmark metric defined by the Energy Star Portfolio Manager. These findings emphasize the potential for significant energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions in residential buildings, highlighting the necessity for policymakers and governments to incentivize the adoption of Passive House standards to achieve environmental sustainability and reduce energy costs for society.

Cost‐optimal Strategy for Energy Conservation Design Code of Building Envelop in Taiwan

<p>本文透過EPBD2010的建築能效成本最佳化原則以及建築外殼的熱流解析，來檢討台灣現有建築外殼節能法規的節能效益與成本效益。本文首先強調起源於寒帶氣候「高隔熱、高氣密」節能技術的德國「被動式建築認證」，並不符合溫熱氣候國家之建築節能成本最佳化策略，接著再分析2008年以來一系列論文，曾經揭露建築外殼保溫層設計或雙層外殼設計，在亞熱帶氣候會導致高空調耗能上升之「隔熱反效果現象」，因此呼籲亞熱帶與熱帶氣候國家切忌引入寒帶氣候流行的「高隔熱、高氣密」節能手法，以防止節能反效果效應。透過在亞洲地區303城市一個透天住宅與一間辦公建築空間的全年空調負荷分布分析，發現其中住宅的「隔熱反效果現象」是越往熱帶的南台灣越顯著，而辦公、商業類建築的「隔熱反效果現象」是越往涼爽的北台灣越顯著，但台灣無庸置疑是處於亞熱帶與熱帶的最顯著「隔熱反效果現象」區域，因此台灣現有建築節能法規應避免強化建築外殼的隔熱與氣密規範以避免節能反效果。本文同時採用由寒帶到熱帶12個城市的全年室內外溫差與當地建築節能法規對住宅外殼的熱傳透率U值規範，來分析住宅建築外殼隔熱規範的嚴格程度，由此發現台灣現行建築外殼隔熱法規在12個城市中已接近一個非常合理的嚴格程度、可說已接近成本最佳化水準。本文最後以近零碳建築定義之節能50%基準，來分析包括外殼、空調、照明的整體節能潛力，發現空調、照明的節能設計比建築外殼節能設計有高出4.7~7.1倍的節能潛力。因此在「隔熱反效果現象」與成本最佳化原則雙重考量之下，台灣的淨零建築已不必要求強化建築外殼節能法規，相反地應針對更高CP值、更有節能動力的空調、照明設備系統的能效設計，積極推動強制性法制化工作。</p> <p> </p><p>This paper used the cost‐optimal principle of EPBD2010 and building envelop thermal analysis to investigate the energy conservation effect and cost efficiency of existing energy conservation design code of building envelop in Taiwan. This paper firstly pointed out the Germany’s passive house certification system which emphasizing the energy conservation technology of high insulation and high airtight design which origin in cold climatic is not march the cost‐optimal strategy of building energy conservation in hot or warm climates, then analyzed a series of papers from 2008 which have revealed that more building envelop insulation or double skin design in subtropical climates might lead the increasing phenomenon of AC energy consumption, so called anti-insulation effect, so as to appeal the tropical and subtropical countries should not to introduce the cold climate’s building energy conservation technologies of high insulation and high airtight design of building envelop to prevent the opposite effect of energy conservation. Through analyzing the air conditioning thermal load distributions in 303 Asian countries for a house and an office building space, this paper found that the anti-insulation effect of residential building appeals to more significant in southerner tropical Taiwan and the anti-insulation effect of office or commercial building appeals to more significant in northerner subtropical Taiwan, it is no doubt that Taiwan is located among tropical and subtropical climates which are the most significant areas of anti-insulation effect, so that the existing Taiwan’s building energy design regulation should to be avoided to strengthen the insulation and airtight code of building envelop to avoid the anti-effect of energy conservation. As the same time, this paper analyzed the strict level of envelop insulation code of residential building in 12 cities from cold to tropical climates by comparing the annual indoor-outdoor temperature difference and the thermal transmission rate U value of the local building regulations and found Taiwan’s existing building envelop insulation code is close to a very appropriate strict standard and could be considered as a cost‐optimal level among the 12 cities. Finally, this paper analyzed the total energy conservation potential of building envelop, air conditioning and lighting by the criteria of 50% energy saving rate in nearly zero carbon building definition and found that the energy conservation potential in air conditioning and lighting design is about to 4.7~7.1 times comparing to building envelop design. So that, to consider both the anti-insulation effect and cost‐optimal strategy, Taiwan’s net zero building policy is not necessary to strengthen the existing building envelop regulation and need more aggressive to promote the mandatory legalization in the energy efficiency design of air conditioning and lighting design which is higher CP value and more energy saving power.</p> <p> </p>

How the single-family residence housing market capitalizes green property upgraded features: evidence from city of Austin

Purpose By comparing regression models, this study aims to analyze the added home value of green sustainability features and green efficiency characteristics, rather than green certifications, in the city of Austin. Design/methodology/approach The adoption of home green energy efficiency upgrades has emerged as a new trend in the real estate industry, offering several benefits to builders and home buyers. These include tax reductions, health improvements and energy savings. Previous studies have shown that energy-certified single-family homes command a premium in the marketplace. However, the literature is limited in its analysis of the effects of green upgrades and certification on different types of single-family homes. To address this gap, this research collected data from 21,292 multiple listing services (MLS) closed home-selling listings in Austin, Texas, over a period of 35 months. Findings The analysis results showed that green efficiency features could generally increase single-family housing prices by 11.9%, whereas green sustainability upgrades can potentially bring a 11.7% higher selling price. Although green housing certification did not have significant effects on most housing groups, it did increase closing prices by 13.2% for single-family residences sold at the medium price range, which is higher than the impacts from simply listing the green features on MLS. Originality/value The study contributes to the body of knowledge by examining the market value of broadly defined energy efficiency and sustainability features in the residential housing market. The findings can help policymakers, brokerage firms, home builders and owners adjust their policies and strategies related to single-family home sales and mortgage approvals. The research also highlights the potential benefits of capitalizing on green housing features other than certifications.

일본 육아지원 주택 단지 인정 기준 분석 : 동경도(東京都) 육아지원 인정제도를 중심으로

일본 육아지원 주택 단지 인정 기준 분석 : 동경도(東京都) 육아지원 인정제도를 중심으로

РЫНОК ИПОТЕЧНОГО КРЕДИТОВАНИЯ В РОССИИ В ПОСТПАНДЕМИЙНЫЙ ПЕРИОД: ДИНАМИКА И МЕРЫ ПО РАЗВИТИЮ

The article analyzes the absolute and relative dynamics of individual housing lending indicators. The regulatory legal context of the individual housing lending market is examined, and legislative measures that could contribute to its more intensive and high-quality development (in particular, escrow accounts) are considered. Attention is paid to a number of preferential mortgage lending instruments, in particular, housing certificates. A conclusion is drawn about the prospects for the development of individual housing lending in Russia.

Juridical Analysis of the Position of the Notary Deed That Does Not Meet the Subjective Elements as a Condition for the Validity of the Agreement

The deed throughout 2010 recorded that 12 housing certification cases had been handled by the Notary Supervisory Council, both central and regional. It is undeniable that certain individuals can do things that violate their professional code of ethics. In conducting this research, the author uses the research method used is normative juridical literature research, the sources of which can be obtained from library materials and document studies. The result of the research is that a deed that can be canceled remains valid and binding as long as there is no court decision that has permanent legal force that cancels the deed. Legal actions as outlined in a notarial deed can be canceled if they contain juridical defects caused by several things: inability to act and disagree or disagree in making them. It is different from a deed that can be canceled because in the process of making it it does not meet the subjective elements as stated in Article 1320 paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Civil Code. As legal subjects, humans cannot be separated from things called legal actions and what humans often do in carrying out their lives is making transactions. In conducting transactions, the parties cannot agree on an agreement. The agreement according to Article 1873 of the Civil Code is a follow-up agreement made in a separate deed that is contrary to the original deed, only providing evidence between the parties but does not apply to third parties with good intentions. Based on the legal requirements of the agreement in the form of a notarial deed, the two conditions for the validity of the agreement are not fulfilled, namely the existence of an agreement to bind oneself and a lawful cause. The legal consequences can be canceled or null and void by law.

A Review of Housing Certification Standards with a Focus on Energy Efficiency

In addition to building codes and regulations, voluntary housing certification standards also play an important role in the energy efficiency of housing. Each of these standards was established in response to a set of specific demands for high performance housing. Consequently, the energy conservation technologies and design approach applicable could be very diverse and dynamic. This paper is aimed to provide a comprehensive review for the state-of-the art housing standards with a focus on energy efficiency. It was observed that these standards normally evaluate energy efficiency based on percentage savings of the design with energy conservation measures compared to a reference case. The net-zero energy balance between energy consumption and on-site energy generation is considered the highest level of performance. This paper examines if this approach is adequate and prompts future research in order to improve the effectiveness of housing standards in defining sustainable housing.

DRIVERS OF CONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHMENT OF BUILDINGS THAT MEET THE PASSIVE HOUSE (PH) STANDARD IN SPAIN

Considering their potential to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast set the objective that by December 2020 all new buildings shall be nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB). This study gives an overview of those buildings that follow the Passive House (PH) certification standard in Spain, focusing on the analysis of some fundamental driving forces (population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), climatic zones, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and building construction/refurbishment specialists) that may explain the regional distribution of these type of buildings. Main conclusions illustrate that the “climate zone effect” may have a relevant effect on their geographical location. In contrast, the evolution of the real estate market is not related with their location, and that despite the GDP and the population having a certain effect, the number of PH Constructors is found to be a fundamental variable in explaining the number of buildings in Spanish regions. Therefore, a policy destined to raise awareness and to improve the technical training of these specialists and to extend this standard (or similar ones) to new and refurbished multifamily houses in big cities, may be fundamental to increase the number of NZEBs in this country. Keywords: nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB); Passive House (PH); Energy Certification; Spanish Building Code ; Energy performance; Climate Change.

Development of a Design-Driven Parametric Mass Timber Construction System for Modular High-Rise Urban Housing

This paper presents the outcome of an ongoing research and development process at Lang Wilson Practice and Architecture Culture and Intelligent City on a parametric mass timber construction system for modular mid- to high-rise urban housing that started in 2006. The system was developed to systematically address the urban housing crisis in North America, and it is currently applied in two Canadian housing projects in seismic zones with 4 and 12 storeys in an evolution from previous modular housing projects by the companies. The first part of this paper explains the holistic, design-driven and parametric approach to urban housing, and how platform-based design is critical for an adaptable, sustainable and qualitative urbanization. Criteria of livability, affordability and sustainability inform the development of a customizable and modular mass timber building system, which can adapt to grid spacing and module sizes as well as to structural requirements for up to 18 floors in seismic zones. The building system is developed to meet Passive House certification and to be fully prefabricated. Constructional innovations within the system reduce the typical redundancy of doubled-up material layers of modular construction. In the second part, the authors explain how the building system is also the result of the development of a fully parametric design tool that allows not only for the optimization of building typology, home layouts or even energy consumption, but also automatically adapts the geometry of all mass timber building elements. This high level of parametrized building information density in an early stage of the design process allows for an unprecedented collaboration of designers, architects and engineers while ensuring constructability. In the last part the authors present a case study, explaining the advantages and challenges of such a collaborative effort and explain how they successfully obtained approvals to build a 12-storey mass timber housing project.

장수명 주택 인증 평가항목 득점현황 분석 연구

장수명 주택 인증 평가항목 득점현황 분석 연구

장수명 주택 인증제도 개선을 위한 전문가 의견조사 연구

장수명 주택 인증제도 개선을 위한 전문가 의견조사 연구

Analysis of the Current Scoring Distribution by Evaluation Criteria in Korean Long-Life Housing Certification System Cases

Peoples lifestyles are diversifying due to an increase in the types of residents housing and family structures. The ratio of apartment housing in Korea was 59.9% (9806 households) in 2015, and this type accounts for the largest ratio among all housing types. However, the life of the physical housing is approximately 30–40 years, which is relatively shorter in comparison to that of overseas houses. Therefore, the certification system for long-life housing, which had longer social and physical service life, was newly established in 24 December 2014. However, all apartment houses only acquired the normal grade (grade 4). The purpose of this study is to investigate all long-life housing certification cases and analyze the acquired score and status of each evaluation item. The total number of certification cases was 283, and the data analysis and FGI (Focus Group Interview) investigation method were used as the methods of study. As a result of analysis and summary, 173 cases (61.13%) received 50 points and 106 cases (37.46%) received 51 points. All these cases were considered normal grade. The result of this study is as follows. First, a system to maintain the long-life housing certification system operation agency is necessary. Second, the reason for an item with no score was the evasion by construction companies due to an increase in both the construction expense and sale price. Therefore, various incentive plans are necessary and should be executed accordingly. Third, it is necessary to improve the detailed evaluation standards of the certification system and reexamine its scoring system. Long-life housing is a housing type in preparation for changes in the residential environment in future. The significance of this study is that the content shall be utilized as preliminary data for improving the system through the analysis of evaluation items in the certification system.

Ensuring environmental safety in housing construction

The article provides organization-economic facilitating mechanism for housing stock environmental friendliness, the main task of which is ensuring of building of the “green buildings” at a faster pace. Negative impact of the housing on human and environment was detected, and analyzed systems of certification of the green building in different countries reflected the necessity of implementation of obligatory housing certification into the Town Planning Code and Housing Code of the Russian Federation. Control of the housing environmental safety for life and health of the people in the form of verification procedure for correspondence of design technologies, engineering structures, and materials to the requirements of the environmental safety can be implemented through the usage of organizational-economic mechanism.

장수명주택 인증기준별 최적화를 위한 Infill 연구

장수명주택 인증기준별 최적화를 위한 Infill 연구

장수명 주택 관계자별 인센티브 부여 방향 설정에 관한 연구

Long-life housing means a housing which structural members (Support) such as columns and floor are maintained for a long period of time and the housing can be used for approximately 100 years by replacing components (Infill) such as walls and furniture. The government established「Certification standards of long-life housing construction」on December 24, 2014, requiring the long-life housing certification for construction of apartment houses for over 1,000 households. However, it is necessary to prepare an incentive measure which could be granted to construction related personnel and housing owners due to the effectiveness of such system and recognition that the initial construction cost of long-life housing is high. The purpose of this study is as follows. First, the reasons and necessity of long-life housing cost increase for each construction company, housing owner, infill component manufacturer and designer which are long-life housing related personnel are determined. The direction of incentive grant for supplying long-life housing based on the determined items is established. The result of this study is as follows. First, a special treatment which is higher than the alleviation of construction standards according to the previous ordinance is necessary for construction companies to secure the business feasibility. Also, incentives such as the provision of service space and wide balcony are necessary to improve the preference level of parceling out. Second, financial incentives such as financial support for housing purchase, reduction and exemption of tax (acquisition tax and registration tax), and support of maintenance cost are required for house owners. Third, it is essential to increase opportunities to participate in the market for infill component manufacturers by applying additional points for PQ. Fourth, it is needed to provide compensation for additional human resource and time at the time of designing to designers by preparing the long-life housing design cost standards.

Developing Technology Influence Matrix to Support Decision-making for Long-life Housing Planning - Focused on Exclusive Housing Unit of Long-life Housing -

Purpose: Long-life housing causes unavoidable cost increase while providing higher durability, flexibility, and repair easiness compare to those of normal apartment. The effectiveness should be evaluated considering the level of passing mandatory Long-life housing Certification System when supplying specific size of apartment complex. Thus, it is essential to identify the estimated costs and the obtainable grade by applying the optional element technologies selectively during the design phase. This study aimed to suggest the technology influence matrix(TIM) to support decision-making of element technologies in planning stage of long-life housing. Method: The technology influence matrix was established based on the property information about applicable element technologies for long-life housing such as construction methods, interface types, cost data, and certification-related characteristics. The usefulness of TIM was verified through case study, in which TIM was applied to the exclusive housing unit and the influences from four areas of quantity, cost, certification, and schedule were identified and calculated. Result: TIMs covering four areas representing the essential planning factors were developed, and are expected to contribute to sound decision-making in planning long-life housing.

장수명주택 인증제도 개선방향 설정을 위한 공동주택 수요자 인식도 조사에 관한 연구

Since the long-life housing certification system was initiated in 2014, the number of certification cases is not many until now. Although the incentive of permitting a building coverage and a floor area ratio of up to 110% is regulated on the basis of the Housing Act and Article 65-2 of the Standards of Housing Construction, the incentive has been found to be ineffective due to the redundancy in other certification systems. The purpose of this study is to derive various methods of providing incentives by analyzing the current status and problems of long-life housing market. The methods of providing incentives were derived by analyzing and reviewing relevant laws and regulations after conducting an investigation through interviews with experts and house owners. The result of this study is as follows. First, the construction standards may be relieved, including the height limit and the standards for broad balcony and reserve plumbing space. Second, financial and tax support may be provided for construction companies and house owners. Third, development act approval process may be simplified, and the certification record may be included in the building register and the building appraisal to advertise the certification system and to increase building value by using the certification system. Fourth, advantages in prequalification may be given to the companies having good records of the long-life housing certification system and appropriate price may be paid for undergoing the system to extend the opportunities to participate in the long-life market.

Learning from Demonstration? Developing Construction for Sustainability

Demonstration projects are often used in the building sector to provide a basis for using new processes and/or products. The climate change agenda implies that construction is not only required to deliver value for the customer, cost reductions and efficiency but also sustainable buildings. This paper reports on an early demonstration project, the building of a passive house dormitory in the Central Region of Denmark in 2006-2009. The project was supposed to deliver value, lean design, prefabrication, quality in sustainability, certification according to German standards for passive houses, and micro combined heat and power using hydrogen. Using sociological and business economic theories of innovation, the paper discusses how early movers of innovation tend to obtain only partial success when demonstrating their products and often feel obstructed by minor details. The empirical work encompasses both an evaluation of the design and construction process as well as a post-occupancy evaluation. Process experiences include the use of a multidisciplinary competence group and performance measurement. The commencement of the project was enthusiastic, but it was forced into more traditional forms of control, driven by such challenges as complying with cost goals, the need to choose a German prefab supplier, and local contractors. Energy calculations, indoor climate, issues related to square meter requirements, and the hydrogen element became problematic. The aim to obtain passive house certification prevailed over realizing a good indoor climate, which included sufficient heating. Project management must be able to handle quantitative complexity where simple issues add up to major challenges.

Improving passive house certification: recommendations based on end-user experiences

The house construction sector in Europe is facing the need to meet stricter energy requirements. For example, some customers are demanding passive houses with almost no demand for space heating. Passive house quality assurance systems have been introduced to certify the energy performance of such houses. The aim of this study was to identify opportunities for improving passive house certification in line with customer's comfort expectations. Questionnaires, site visits and interviews were carried out to identify and assess the comfort concerns of owner-occupiers in certified single-family passive houses in Flanders, northern Belgium. The results show that certified passive houses in Flanders are well rated and perceived as very comfortable. However, there were some cases where comfort concerns were expressed related to perceived flaws in the design or construction of the building services. In particular, the study recommends incorporating criteria for the planning and installation of user-friendly ventilation systems into passive house certification and providing end-users with better information.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Methods of Delivering Housing Subsidies

The empirical literature is unanimous in finding that tenant-based housing certificates and vouchers provide housing of any quality at a much lower total cost (that is, cost to all levels of government and tenants) than the types of project-based assistance studied, namely Public Housing, Section 236, and Section 8 New Construction and Substantial Rehab. However, these studies are so old and inaccessible that they are unknown to most people involved in current discussions of housing policy. This paper discusses the theoretical reasons to expect that these types of project-based housing programs will have excessive costs, presents a conceptually correct methodology for the cost-effectiveness analysis of housing programs, and provides a description and critical appraisal of the data and methods used in these earlier studies as well as a summary of their results. It concludes that cost-effectiveness analyses of current forms of project- based housing assistance should be the highest priority for research on housing policy.