Passivhuscentrum

A few days ago in Alingsås we visited a school where technology and technical education around the Passivhus concept are taught. Passivhus is a type of extremely energy-efficient housing that is now being used in some places in Sweden. Alingsås has a few Passivhus’s, including a day care center in Stadskogen.

According to our tour, the first Passivhus was completed in 2002. The basic idea is to insulate and seal the building extremely well and use a heat recovery exchange system (recycling filtered warm air from bathrooms and kitchens back into the house), body heat, and heat from appliances as the heat sources. We were told that a secondary heating system can be installed if desired (if the house is left for a few weeks with no appliances or body heat, it can take a while to warm up again). Triple pane glass windows, typically wood frame with a break in the thermal bridge, are used. There is a special system used to apply the vapor barrier around windows and for homes with more than one level. Insulation is high-pressure blown-in cellulose (recycled newspaper). A blower door test is required prior to rigid insulation (after blown-in) to ensure the envelope is sealed properly. The Swedes measure envelope insulation in U-values (roughly the inverse of R-values) and I haven’t had a chance to convert them yet. The insulation is typically at least as follows, in U-value:
Walls: 0.10 – 40cm
Attic: 0.08 – 50cm
Foundation: 0.088 – 30cm
Windows: 0.80

Right now Passivhus construction is typically stick-built on site, but they are looking into ways of building prefabricated Passivhus homes (which are much more common in Sweden – 90% of Swedish homes are prefab). We were told that the cost of a Passivhus is 5% over normal, but I don’t know if that means normal for stick-built or normal for prefab. Sweden is having the same challenge of making existing housing more sustainable and energy-efficient, and Passivhus is also working on renovation projects. One project in Alingsås, Brogotten, is a multi-family Passivhus remodel success story – average energy use went from 216 kWh to 92 kWh in one study.
One thing I really brought away from this visit was that making energy-efficient buildings only gives the possibility of lower bills and an energy-efficient lifestyle – behavior is a very important determining factor to a projects success. We need to be sure to include homeowner/resident education about consumption practices as part of green building, as well as building the houses themselves. This is common sense of course, but realizing that Sweden has the same challenge really hit the message home.

Another interesting part of the visit was actually about Germany. In some areas of Germany, where if a project removes green space, that exact amount of green space must be put back into the project. Passivhus’s in Germany will often take the exact sod/grass from the site and put it right on the roof, which adds insulation in the winter and keeps the house cool in the summer. Apparently the weight of the added roof elements is not an issue for engineering because they have high snow load requirements just as Minnesota does.

One example of city planning in Sweden

A few days ago Rachel and I met with the city architect/planner of Alingsås to discuss some of the zoning laws and sustainability initiatives of the city. Sweden has a lot of forests and lumber, and one initiative in Alingsås is to use wood in building because it is local and a renewable resource (I have not had to convince a single Swede that wood is a good product so far - most seem amazed that some Americans believe we shouldn't use wood!!).

Pedestrian-only shopping street in Alingsås

Alingsås is also trying to make the city more safe and accessible. Part of this means incorporating the concept of what we call Universal Design so that buildings can sustain multiple uses and generations. For example, having door handles and faucets with levers instead of knobs that turn, wide doors for wheelchair access, rocker light-switches, and all necessary amenities on one level (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, entryway). Safety is also important to Alingsås, and now all buildings are required to have an entrance viewable from the street. Garage doors should be positioned so that they can be see from the house (to prevent auto theft).

A pedestrian open-air shopping mall alley off the main shopping street

Alingsås also has a suggested target energy efficiency of 90 kWh per square meter for its buildings – Sweden’s target is 110 kWh per square meter. Alingsås has won prizes for its preservation practices as well, and has a preserved town center with shops and pedestrian-only streets. Overall, sustainability is high priority for the city, and the people of Alingsås seem very excited about it because it makes their city a better place to live and will atract more people to it.

Stadsskogen

We are in the town of Alingsås, population 26,000, which has an improvement initiative called Alingsås 2019. Adding 2,000 additional housing units and improving sustainability and quality of life of its inhabitants are part of this initiative. Last night I got to take a walk through the new development called Stadsskogen that is a “city in a forest”. The land had initially been forest and will now be home to 1,000 new housing units, nestled in between the trees. Much of the forest land is being preserved and the homes are clustered between the trees. 300 have been built already in a range of housing types; single-family, multi-family, townhome, and “multi-generational” houses for larger-sized families which are common in Sweden. These particular units were built along a semi-circle so that the yards never face the neighbor’s, and yet all take in the view of the nearby lake. Bike and walking trails are scattered throughout the development, and the bus and train are within walking distance. The project involved many different developers, builders, and architects of all sizes; each one was given their own piece of land to develop in their own way so each section is a little bit different.


The city has also Nolhaga, what they call their “outdoor living room”, which is a large park in the center of the city. Alingsås is called the “wooden city” because of the large number of wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, which are historically preserved. It is also home of the potato in Sweden, and hosts “Lights in Alingsås”, where innovative lighting designers create lighting installations to be on display for the month of October, drawing thousands of visitors.

First Impressions from Sweden

Moss-covered Swedish forest

We made it safe and sound to Sweden today, and have been warmly welcomed to the small village of Borås. What is striking me so far is that the terrain seems very similar to certain parts of Northern Minnesota, only not as cold and quite a bit wetter. Today we had the privilege of hiking through a beautiful private Swedish forest (although in Sweden there is a rule that anyone can walk anywhere; there are no restrictions on going off the beaten path), and saw many birch trees, evergreens, and many different types of fuzzy moss that covered everything in multiple shades of green. The lakes here are not completely frozen but do have ice in them, and the snow is so wet that when we backtracked our steps our footprints had softened and dissolved into faint impressions.

Light occupancy sensors in kitchens and bathrooms are common.

A few things that are sticking out to me: One is that even in these small villages, in the tiny cottage we are staying at in the woods, there are “green” aspects implemented. The bathrooms all have light occupancy sensors and low-sone humidity-controlled bathroom fans (from what I can tell). The kitchen also has a light occupancy sensor. The toilets are all dual-flush. The cottage and the main house both have in-floor hydronic radiant heating systems (the main house is fueled by a wood pellet stove) and also have on-site waste filtration systems that result in potable clean water run-off.

Wooden siding is the most popular type of exterior siding in Sweden.

Wood is obviously a prevalent item here. Most houses have painted wood siding; even with the most basic floor plans and minimal windows, they appear very quaint and cute. Most roofs are metal, and some are clay tile, and all are pitched very steeply to allow rain and snow to slide off. Wood heating is very popular in this area.
I also learned a little today about a prefabricated construction company that manufactures the walls to have plumbing and electrical wiring installed within them before they even arrive on site. The insulation is some sort of crushed stone mixed with water, but not like cement or ICF’s, from what I can tell so far. I’m looking forward to getting more information on this system and hopefully will see it firsthand.
One last thing that strikes me is that the rural communities here seem to facing many of the same challenges as in Minnesota. Schools are closing, populations are dwindling, and jobs are being lost for a number of reasons. It seems that many communities here may see that by offering a clean, affordable, sustainable way of life, people may be able (and may choose) to stay in these areas. I can’t wait to find out more about the processes involved, how housing plays a role, and to see if energy is the primary focus.
Not too bad for one day – I imagine we’ll be learning a lot more in the next month. We can get internet from time to time but rarely have more than five minutes to be online – I’ll update when I can!

Upcoming events related to Sustainability

Here's a list of some upcoming events relating to green building and sustainability. Many listed here are located in Minnesota or the Midwest:

Growing Cooler: How Land Use Can Help Minnesota Reach Its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals. January 5, 2009. Minneapolis, MN.

Bringing Renewable Energy Home: Energy Policies To Maximize Energy Security And Economics. January 9, 2009. Northfield, MN.

University of Minnesota Renewable Energy Initiatives: Second Advanced Biomass Workshop. January 15, 2009. Morris, MN.

A Lumberyard's Perspective on Green Building. Northwestern Building Products Expo. January 19, 2009. Minneapolis, MN.

USGBC Mississippi Headwaters Chapter Recap of Greenbuild 2008 and Chapter meeting. January 20, 2009. St. Paul, MN.

Applying LCA Building Design - Easier than you Think! January 20, 2009. Long Beach, CA.

LEED® Core & Shell - Gold Tour: 8200 Tower. January 22, 2009. Bloomington, MN.

Green Building Basics and LEED. February 2, 2009. St. Paul, MN.

Introduction to Renewable Energy Options & Opportunities. February 7, 2009. St. Paul, MN.

Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable. February 9, 2009. Saint Paul, MN.

Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) 2009 Conference: Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota’s Energy Future. February 10-11, 2009. St. Cloud, MN.

Green Building Programs: Are they Really Leading to Green? Wood Solutions Fair. February 24, 2009. Raleigh, NC.

Forest Values and Carbon Markets: Opportunities for Minnesota. February 25-26, 2009. Cloquet, MN.

Minnesota Shade Tree short Course. March 17-18, 2009. Arden Hills, MN.

Enhancing the Bottom Line through Certified Forest Products: A Primer for Wholesalers and Retailers. March 29, 2009. Plymouth, MN.

WindEnergy Business 2009: US-German Opportunities for Cooperation in Wind Energy. February 24, 2009. Chicago, IL.

Solar Energy: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Photovoltaics. April 4, 2009. White Bear Lake, MN.

Solar Energy: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Solar Water Heating. April 18, 2009. White Bear Lake, MN.

Residential Energy Auditor Training. Jan. 12 – 16, 2009, Feb. 23 – 27, 2009, April 20 – 24, 2009, May 11 – 15, 2009

Living Green Expo. May 2-3, 2009.

Greening the Heartland Conference. May 31-June 2, 2009. Detroit, MI.

Materials are only Green in Relation to Each Other. SWST Annual Meeting. June 24, 2009. Boise, ID.

The Eco-Experience at the Minnesota State Fair. August 27-September 7, 2009. Saint Paul, MN.

EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & Expo. September 28-30. Denver, CO.

2009 Minnesota Solar Tour. October 9, 2009. Various locations in Minnesota.

Greenbuild. November 11-13, 2009. Phoenix, AZ.

Changes to LEED Professional Accreditation

The USGBC has recently approved the latest standard LEED 2009, and now they are also unveiling a new accreditation program for professionals. There are going to be some changes in LEED 2009 for sure, but one major change is how the accreditation process is going to work. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), formed by the USGBC, has been in charge of implementing these changes and helping professionals learn more about LEED.

Accreditation Program Changes

Here are the major changes from the old AP program to the new one:

There will be three levels of accreditation, called tiers (see below).

All exam levels will have eligibility requirements

As the standards evolve, additional testing will be required, in addition to continuing education hours. $50 credential maintenance fees occur every two years.

Levels of Accreditation

The three tiers, according to GBCI, are as follows:

Tier I
LEED Green Associate: Evoking good environmental practice and being the first step in the LEED professionals career pathway the LEED Green Associate credential attests to demonstrated knowledge and skill in understanding and supporting green design, construction, and operations.

Tier II
LEED AP+ : The LEED AP+ credential signifies an extraordinary depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a particular field: commercial building design & construction, commercial operations & maintenance, commercial interiors, residential design & construction, and neighborhood development.

TIER III
LEED AP Fellow: LEED Fellows enter an elite class of leading professionals who are distinguished by their years of experience and a peer review of their project portfolio. Fellows contribute to the standards of practice and body of knowledge for achieving continuous improvement in the green building field.

Specialty Tracks

There are also 5 specialty tracks to pursue (for LEED AP+):

• Operations and Maintenance (old EB) 2009 O&M
• Residential Design and Construction (HOMES) 2009 HOMES
• Building Design and Construction (old NC) 2009 BD&C
• Interior Design and Construction (old CI) 2009 ID&C
• Neighborhood Development (ND) 2010 ND
  

Continuing Education Requirements

LEED Green Associate: 15 hours required every two years, 3 of which must be from an approved program specific to the LEED Rating System, credit categories, and LEED updates

LEED AP+: 30 hours required every two years, 6 of which must be from an approved program specific to the LEED Rating System, credit categories, and LEED updates

LEED Fellow: information not available at this time

Changes to the Exam Format

There are a few changes to the exam format itself. For LEED Green Associates, the exam is computer-issued, multiple choice, and takes up to 2.5 hours. The LEED AP+ exam has two parts, the core exam (same as the LEED Green Associates exam) and a specialty examination on one of tracks listed above. The LEED AP+ exam may last 4 hours. If only one portion of the exam is passed, you have three chances and one year to retake that portion until you pass. Qualifications for LEED Fellow are still under development.

Credential Fees

In addition to seminars, study guides, and handbooks, the following costs apply:

LEED Green Associate: $50 application fee; $150 USGBC National Member fee per exam appointment ($200 for non-members); $50 maintenance fee (every two years).

LEED AP+: $100 application fee; $300 USGBC National Member fee per exam appointment ($450 for non-members); $50 maintenance fee (every two years). Additional specialty exams are each $150.00 members ($200.00 non-members) plus the application fee.

LEED Fellow: $50 maintenance fee (every two years); other requirements are currently being developed.

Existing LEED AP's

If you are currently a LEED AP, you will now be known as a "Legacy LEED AP" and have two years to "opt in" to the new system, beginning June 2009. Until you opt in your status will be listed as inactive. You must sign the disciplinary policy and agree to complete the required hours of credential maintenance to officially opt in (30 hours continuing education every 2 years, 6 of which must be LEED-based). Once opted in, you will be able to use the new LEED AP+ designation and be listed in the active registry (after the second exam is passed). If you choose to not opt in, your LEED AP status will be listed as inactive until June 2011, at which point you will be required to fulfill eligibility requirements and retake the test. The fee for opting in is waived until June 2011, at which point it becomes $50 for credential maintenance every two years (same maintenance fee as for non-current LEED AP's).

To obtain additional designation as a LEED AP+ (ie, pursue a specialty track), a current LEED AP that has opted in only has to take the specialty track portion of the test. This costs $150 for USGBC National members and $250 for non-members for each exam appointment.

Timeline

The beta testing for Tier 1 (LEED Green Associate), and also LEED AP Operations and Maintenance exam will begin in February 2009. More beta exams will be launched first and second quarter of 2009. Stay tuned for more information as it develops.

For more information on the new LEED Accreditation, visit GBCI or email exam@gbci.org.