Responding to participant questions, we are compiling a list of clarifications for all to reference. We hope these are useful.

Design Parameter Clarifications:

Buildability: The competition has the goals of challenging, informing, and inspiring designers and homeowners to rebuild more resiliently with Passive House. Because all single-family homes, to some extent, are custom homes, the submitted designs should consider their implementation after the competition is complete. We encourage submissions to consider the potential for client-specific needs, toward making the design permit-ready and buildable, including achieving Pre-Approved plans, after the competition is complete.

Location and orientation: The Location and orientation of the building lot are not fixed and are up to the submitter.

Bedroom Count: We will limit the number of bedrooms to 3 or 4 to avoid triggering additional parking requirements.

Shading: The shading condition is not fixed, but should be realistic, likely surrounded by similarly sized homes.

Zoning/Parking: This is single-family construction, so R-1 districts, but the precise zoning context is not fixed. Therefore, depending on the lot orientation of the single-family lot, parking (2 covered spaces) and setback requirements should be considered. See examples from the last three pages of the Altadena Community property-specific standards summary.

Zoning Summary: A summary of R-1 Zoning in Altadena is here. And for Pacific Palisades, it is here.

Rear Yard Set Back: The typical rear yard setback requirement was initially erroneously listed only as 15’. 15’ applies to Pacific Palisades. In Altadena, it is 25’. However, if other lot zoning configurations are used, other allowable dimensions are acceptable.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): ADUs are not part of the design mandate. However, the site plan design may include the location of an ADU for future lot development in addressing affordability.

Submission & Modeling Clarifications:

Qualifications of the Submitter: There is no professional qualification for the submitters. Submitters need not be licensed professionals, nor certified Passive House professionals.

Passive House Classic Criteria: While the criteria include a range of requirements for the purposes of the competition, the focus is on those listed on the Verification Tab of the easyPH or PHPP: Space Heating Demand or Load, Space Cooling Demand, and Primary Energy Renewable.

Climate Data Sets: In the PHPP Climate Data location dropdown, several locations appear in the greater Los Angeles area, but none are specifically identified with the Pacific Palisades or Altadena. Users may import data from meteonorm.com. But it is recommended to use a dropdown selection of US0127a-Torrance for Pacific Palisades, and US0122a-Riverside for Altadena, for ease of implementation.

UPDATE: A PHI-verified climate data set for Pasadena is now available and can be used for Altadena as well. The Pasadena set is preferable but not required. Obtain the data file here and copy/paste it into the project PHPP.

Airtightness: For the energy calculations, assume a building airtightness of 0.6 ACH50, the minimum airtightness allowable.

Energy Modeling Outputs: PDF images of the designPH, easyPH, or PHPP verification summaries with the energy file are acceptable. However, because designPH alone does not calculate cooling demand, we recommend exporting the initial designPH (.skp file) model to easyPH (.xls file), a simplified PHPP for quicker single-family results. Then make final adjustments and complete verification of the Passive House Classic criteria in easyPH, providing a PDF image of the verification page and the easyPH Excel file.

Given all the above, if you are not already proficient in designPH, using only easyPH should be the simplest method to complete the needed verification.

Certification of Submission: No certification, nor Design Stage Approval by a Certifier, is required.

Identification of Submission: No identifying names of individuals or companies submitting should be included on the poster. The QR code will be blocked out for jury review and is meant for public use when displayed. Identification is by a separate document upload.

 

This design competition is part of a larger effort by The Passive House Network, its chapters, and members and supporters. We are also creating resources to support community rebuilding efforts across the country. Find them on our Climate Disaster Support webpage.