Short Course
Certified Passive House Designer

Johanna Trickett, Marcus Strang and Walter van der Linde

Johanna Trickett is an architect and sustainability professional who not only recognises the many challenges but also the many opportunities in creating a more sustainable built environment. Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Architecture, Passive House Designer accreditation and a Master of Science in ‘ClimaDesign’, which in combination allows her to approach projects with an interdisciplinary design and engineering perspective. Johanna has worked in various architectural and sustainability roles in Australia and Germany, with various roles, including Project Architect, ESD Advisor, Lead ESD Consultant and Project Leader. Having worked in two countries and on multiple international projects, Johanna has developed a keen interest in the communication of ESD concepts across national borders and across multiple project disciplines.

Marcus Strang is a specialist sustainability engineer and experienced Certified Passive House Designer, having had the opportunity to work on many Certified Passive House buildings in Australia. His expertise is in refining building energy performance, analysing thermal envelope junctions and fenestration details, as well as identifying interstitial and surface moisture risks using hygrothermal modelling tools. Marcus’s interests encompass holistic systems design, building physics, passive design optimisation and natural building materials. Currently, also a PhD Candidate specialising in the Passive House Standard and mass timber design, which he sees as a fundamental step for striving towards net-zero carbon emission buildings and a thriving, vibrant society.

Walter van der Linde is a mechanical engineer who has led various multi-disciplinary projects to implement high performance services designs and reach stringent design requirements. He believes that the integrated design of engineering services plays a significant role to enhance a building’s energy consumption and reduce our carbon emissions. Walter led the services design team on the Woodside Building for Technology and Design at Monash University’s Clayton Campus to achieve Passive House certification. The completion of this large multi-disciplinary project and the incorporation of the services into the PHPP has enhanced Walter’s understanding of services design and its impact on Passive House designs. Walter has experience in various HVAC designs including educational facilities, offices, hotels, laboratories, cleanrooms and bio-containment facilities. He enjoys implementing energy efficient designs and takes a first principles approach to ensure the designs are practical and holistic. He has combined his experience of technically challenging HVAC designs and stringent energy consumption requirements to produce high efficiency services designs which will drive down a building’s operational carbon footprint.

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 the Passive House Institute website.

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.

This course is held online. You will need a computer with MS Excel and a good internet connection.

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.

A useful reference book that you can choose to purchase prior to the course 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.