An incomplete review of thermal comfort, thermodynamics, indoor air quality, who influenced this science and how it is being used to design insanely comfortable buildings. Bonus side benefit: they happen to use very little energy. (Don't tell anyone about this - it may be too radical.)

1. The Building Science of Health and Comfort:
A Movement to Radically Transform
How We Build Oakland
https://dabrownstein.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/more-better-mapping-of-oaklands-populations/
Bronwyn Barry
Design Director, One Sky Homes
Director, Passive House California
Co-President, North American Passive House Network
JANUARY 2015 ROTARY

2. THERMODYNAMICS
(NOT A NEW EXERCISE REGIMEN)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics
Defined by Lord Kelvin as:
"Thermo-dynamics is the
subject of the relation of heat
to forces acting between
contiguous parts of bodies,
and the relation of heat to
electrical agency."
A branch of physics
concerned with
• heat and
• temperature
and their relation to
• energy and
• work.

3. BASIC LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS
(& MOST OF OUR BUILDINGS)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics#Laws_of_thermodynamics
1. First law of thermodynamics: The increase in internal
energy of a closed system is equal to the difference of the
heat supplied to the system and the work done by it: ΔU =
Q - W [74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84] (Note
that due to the ambiguity of what constitutes positive
work, some sources state that ΔU = Q + W, in which case
work done on the system is positive.)
2. Second law of thermodynamics: Heat cannot
spontaneously flow from a colder location to a hotter
location.
3. Third law of thermodynamics: As a system approaches
absolute zero the entropy of the system approaches a
minimum value.
CLIFF NOTES:
HEAT FLOWS FROM
HOT TO COLD
HEAT TRANSFER
HAPPENS VIA:
• CONDUCTION
• CONVECTION
• RADIATION

4. THIS IS YOUR HOUSE|OFFICE
(& MOST OF OUR BUILDING STOCK)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
70 F
52 F
59 F1
5
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
• Surface temperature
differences
• Internal and external
temperature differences
• Radiant surface temperature
differences
WHAT DOES THAT CREATE?
• Radiant discomfort
• Convective currents (internal
drafts)
• A need to mechanically heat
and cool the space
• Mold potential

5. Pioneered the study of
Thermal Comfort
Linked poor indoor air quality to
• Asthma in children
• Poor productivity in workplaces
His work still defines HVAC and he
invented indoor air quality units:
• Olf (strength of pollution source)
• Decipol (perceived air quality)
OUR FRIEND POVL OLE FANGER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Povl_Ole_Fanger
(DANISH DUDE WITH A BAD HAIRCUT)

6. HOW TO BUILD FOR COMFORT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
(A RADICAL CONSPIRACY)
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
• Internal and external
temperature differences
• Even surface temperatures
• Reduced radiant surface
temperature differences
WHAT DOES THAT CREATE?
• Radical COMFORT
• No convective currents (draft-
free)
• Very small mechanical input
to heat and cool the space
• Mold-free
70 F
62 F
52 F

7. Founder of the Passive House Institute
Transformed the design of thermal comfort
into a building standard.
• Developed tools that anyone could use
• Inspired 30,000 comfortable buildings
• Made this methodology available around
the world
Defined Passive House:
ONE MORE FOREIGN DUDE
http://passipedia.org/basics/the_passive_house_-_definition
(DR. WOLFGANG FEIST)
“A Passive House is a building, for which
thermal comfort (ISO 7730) can be
achieved solely by post-heating or post-
cooling of the fresh air mass, which is
required to achieve sufficient indoor air
quality conditions – without the need for
additional recirculation of air.”

8. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN OAKLAND?
(& OTHER PLACES IN CALIFORNIA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
RETROFITS:
• Arizona Street Garage
Conversion
• Laney College Ashton Street
Renovation
COMING SOON:
• Laney College BEST Center
built to Passive House
• Passive House windows built
in Oakland

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObO20UukNQc
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN CALIFORNIA?
(& OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD)

10. Passive House Institute (International Certifying Body):
(Visit www.passivehouse.com to view the growing list.)
Accredited North American trainers and certifiers:
North American Advocacy Groups:
Local Advocacy Organization:
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFO?
www.passivehousecal.org
Bronwyn Barry
@PassiveHouseBB
passivehouseBB@gmail.com
THANKS
www.oneskyhomes.com