Energy efficient single detached dwellings beyond Ontario building code

摘要

This paper presents an analysis of advancing a code compliant single detached dwelling in Ontario, Canada to Passive House Standard energy efficiency level. The research was based on comparing energy models built with the Passive House Planning Package, and included thermal bridging calculations performed in the THERM software. For each energy model, only the effect of improved exterior insulation was isolated and analysed. Starting from the energy model built for code compliant construction, insulation thickness was then increased and air tightness improved until the energy model reached the Passive House energy efficiency level. Achieving the Passive House energy efficiency required 152 mm of exterior insulation and 420 mm of batt insulation in a double stud wall, due to poor internal volume to exterior surface area ratio for the single detached dwelling and rectangular building shape.