Certified Passive House Designer

Daniel Kress.

Daniel started his career as a carpenter in Germany and then worked in Ireland on the biggest residential modular project in the world at that time. After 10 years in the building game he started his studies in civil engineering and worked as a researcher for the European Union in sustainable building.

Since 2015 Daniel has been working in the Australian building industry with the bold aim of creating healthier and more sustainable buildings. He started the business Smart Plus Homes 2017 fallowing his mission to implementing the Passive House Principles into the National Construction Code by 2030. His primary focus is to educate and consult the building industry regarding health and sustainable construction. Smart Plus Homes additionally provides Passive House Designs and product solutions for the building industry.

Daniel is also a representative of the Australian Passive House Association.  The Australian Passive House Association is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which aims to promote Passive House principles as a way of providing superior indoor comfort and air quality while reducing energy use and carbon emissions from Australia’s buildings.

Learning Objectives for Module 1:

• define the Passive House Standard
• calculate the energy balance of Passive House buildings, considering transmission and ventilation losses as well as solar and internal heat gains
• outline the principles of designing Passive House buildings
• specify the performance characteristics of opaque envelope detailing, including insulation, airtightness and thermal bridging
• specify Passive House window systems, including performance assessment and fitting details
• summarise the fundamentals of thermal comfort during the summer
• understand the issues used to calculate Primary Energy consumption, including electrical energy in Passive House projects

Learning Objective for Module 2:

• outline key indoor air quality issues assured in Passive House buildings
• understand mechanical ventilation with heat or energy recovery including system design, detailing, sizing and layout
• summarise space heating and hot water generation and distribution options for Passive House buildings
• highlight important principles of cooling and dehumidification for summer comfort
• complete the basics of economic efficiency calculation and profitability of deep retrofit measures
• describe information to be considered in invitations to bid, construction site management and quality control
• outline key information and support for occupants of Passive House projects
• successfully complete exam style exercises, designs and multiple-choice challenges

More detail on the learning targets can be obtained by going to http://www.passivhausplaner.eu/upload/Appendix_I_learning_targets_EN_DE_2016.pdf.  

This course is suited to qualified and experienced professionals in a building-related discipline.  There are no pre-requisites to become a Passive House Consultant although knowledge of building construction and building design is an advantage.

The Passive House Introduction short course is useful preparation before commencing the Building Designer/Consultant course and internationally accredited exam.

You will be provided with a licensed copy of the PHPP software and manual, Passive House Institute training manual and exam preparation material. Bring to class a calculator, a range of coloured pens, highlighters and note taking material.

You will need a laptop with MS Excel, but not on the first day. Your teacher will advise on which days the laptop is required.

A useful reference book that you can choose to purchase prior to the course and bring with you is The Passivhaus Designer’s Manual: A technical guide to low and zero energy buildings, Christina J. Hopfe and Robert S. McLeod.

This course is aimed at building designers, architects, engineers, contractors, builders and teachers who wish to expand their skill areas towards the international energy efficient standards associated with Passive House construction.