Paul Eldrenkamp speaking at the announcement of the E-Positive Housing initiative unveiled by Mayer Thomas E. Menino, details available here.
Past Events
November 18, 2011, Boston, MA - Build Boston 2011 - "New England Passive House Case Studies" - Paul Panish will be speaking with architects JB Clancy and Stephanie Horowitz. New England now has a half-dozen completed or near-completed homes built to or inspired by the Passive House standard. In this session, three case studies from three leading practitioners will give participants an up-todate sense of the challenges and rewards of meeting (or aiming for) the Passive House standard in the New England climate. Topics will include what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we would do differently next time. For details:
December 2, 2011, Cromwell, CT - "Introduction to Passive House" - Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos will present an all day seminar on Passive House, 'the world's most stringent building energy standard', which also has outstanding non-energy benefits such as comfort, indoor air quality and passive survivability. The DEAP energy group's Certified Passive House Consultants certified the first two Passive House in Massachusetts in July, 2011. For details.
November 16, 2011, Boston, MA - Build Boston 2011 - "Setting and meeting energy targets" - Mike Duclos - As the Cheshire cat said to Alice, “You don’t know where you’re going, anywhere will get you there.” If you’re not in the habit of setting energy-usage targets for your projects, there’s a good chance those projects are not nearly as green as you think they are. In this session, learn various metrics for calculating and comparing energy usage, strategies for setting targets with different types of clients and mechanisms for tracking usage over time. For details:
November 16, 2011, Boston, MA - Build Boston 2011 - "Passive House Retrofits: A tale of three residential retrofits in Boston" - Paul Eldrenkamp will be moderating a panel who will describe their work on retrofitting existing homes to a remarkable level of energy, comfort and indoor air quality performance., as they strive to attain the Passive House EnerPHit standard. For details:
November 11, 2011, Southboro, MA - Join our host and sponsor, Mitsubishi Electric at their Southboro, MA facility for a stimulating presentation and dicussion of Zero Net Energy from both the residential and commercial perspectives. For details.
October 28-29, 2011, Silver Spring, MD - North American Passive House Conference - "Beaton House: The first Passive House certified in Massachusetts"- Paul Panish will be presenting the inside story. For details.
October 26, 2011, Webinar - Onset Computer, Bourne, MA - 2 PM - The Paul Eldrenkamp presented a webinar on the use of various data loggers in high performance homes, real data, true stories.
The 55 minute recorded webinar is available here.
October 15, 2011, Boston, MA - Passive House Boston Symposium, Boston Architectural College 9 AM to 4:30 PM -
The Passive House Boston organization offered their first Symposium on a variety of Passive House related topics, Mike Duclos spoke on the second Certified Passive House in Massachusetts, the Falmouth Passive House.
October 11, 2011, Natick, MA - "Zero Net Energy Residential Design and Construction" - Mike Duclos, Principal of DEAP Energy Group and Carter Scott, President of Transformations, Inc. will be presenting a 6 hour workshop on the design, construction and measured performance of Zero Net Energy homes. Marc Rosenbaum will use the case study of the First Church in Cambridge to explain how to lower energy use and bills in complicated buildings like churches, office buildings, etc., for details.
October 1, 2011 - "Reducing Energy Bills in Older Buildings with Limited Budgets :A Crash Course in Systems Thinking for Older Buildings" - Cambridge, MA. - Marc Rosenbaum will be running this workshop, Paul Eldrenkamp, will moderate, for details.
September 21, 2011, 7 PM - 'Clean and Green: Reducing Our Carbon Footprint' - Chelmsford, MA - Paul Eldrenkamp, President of Byggmeister, Inc. and Principal of DEAP Energy Group will be presenting on this topic, for details.
July 5, 2011 - Goody / Clancy, Boston, MA - 7 PM - Mike Duclos and Steve Baczek, Architect will present on their collaboration which produced the pre-certified Falmouth Passive House. The presentations will chronicle the design, construction and testing sequences, and will address some of the technical issues encountered.
June 29, 2011 - Yestermorrow Design / Build School - 7 PM
Paul Eldrenkamp will be presenting "Deep Energy Retrofits: Passing Fad or New Reality?
June 16, 2011 - Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve - 5:30 PM - Registration is full !
If you are wondering about how difficult it is to build to the Stretch Energy Code and want to know what the savings in energy and dollars really are, you should attend this session on design standards that exceed the Stretch Energy Code. The Passive House principles relate to the aggressive energy saving design and construction methods, not just passive and active solar design. The Passive House design principles strive to reduce heating costs by 90% less energy than traditional construction methods.
The forum will showcase the work of Mike Duclos, Steven Baczek, Architect, and Christian Valle of The Valle Group on the recently completed pre-certified Passive House in Falmouth and a question and answer session.
June 13, 2011 - Housing Assistance Corporation's Conference Room - 4:30 PM - 508-771-5400
What's Happening in Saxony and Upper Austria ?
Tom Hartman and Paul Eldrenkamp will present a summary of a trip taken
in Feb 2011 with Chris Benedict and Andy Shapiro as part of the Building Energy
conference. We will show Passivhaus buildings in both Germany and Austria as
well as highlights from the World Sustainable Energy Days Conference.
April 29, 2011 - Residential Design and Construction - Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, 1:30 to 3:20
Paul Eldrenkamp will be co-presenting on the topic "Passive House Retrofits - A Reality Check"
Passive House retrofits are an inspiring cause, but what, at the end of the day, are they worth? To answer, this workshop compares and contrasts the goals, methods, costs and post occupancy performance of two renovation projects: one—the JP Green House—seeking Passive House status on a shoestring budget, and the other—a deep energy retrofit of a Belmont two-family—aiming for dramatic savings but stopping shy of Passive House standards. Summing it all up, a moderated discussion will explore the suitability of the Passive House standards to retrofits in the New England climate.
April 1, 2011 - Affordable Comfort National Conference - Marriot Marquis - San Francisco - 10:30 to 12:00 -
Mike Duclos was co-presenting with Prudence Ferreira on the topic "Building Local and Regional Networks for Deep Sustainability."
March 30, 2011 - Affordable Comfort National Conference - Marriot Marquis - San Francisco - 10:30 to 12:00 -
Mike Duclos was a member of the panel discussing "No Regrets Remodeling: Enlisting Trades in Deep Energy Reductions." Slides are available here.
March 29, 2011 - Affordable Comfort National Conference - Marriot Marquis - San Francisco - 8:00 to 5:00 -
Mike Duclos was a member of the panel discussing "Planning Deep Energy Projects: A Practicum."
Slides are available here.
Paul Eldrenkamp will participate in the "Deep Energy Retrofit Panel: Details and Lessons Learned"
This is a unique opportunity to learn from those in the field about DER and techniques for retrofitting projects. By attending this panel discussion, you will learn more about:
- Best practices for adding exterior insulation
- How to reinstall and properly flash windows over exterior build-outs
- How to assess moisture and water vapor issues that result from deep-energy retrofits
Paul Eldrenkamp will present "Still Struggling to Answer New England's Tough Building Questions ?"
In this session, Paul Eldrenkamp, who has been a builder in NE for more than 28 years, will address some of the tough questions we all face today, including:
- Is rain screen siding worth the effort? Does it actually work?
- What’s the best way to insulate a foundation? Inside? Outside? Spray foam?
- Are painted exteriors worth the trouble? How can I extend the life of paint and exterior trim?
- Am I creating a dangerous wrong-side vapor barrier when I add foam insulation to the outside of the shell?
- When I tighten a house, how can I know if I have enough ventilation for combustion and occupant safety, and to get rid of moisture?
Mike Duclos and Carter Scott will present "Striving for Zero Net Energy Homes: Design, Construction, Results"
Advanced building energy standards are a topic of intense discussion and investigation by both the construction industry and state governments. The final report of the Massachusetts Governor’s Zero Net Energy Task Force issued 3/11/09, recommends establishing a zero net energy performance monitoring protocol. In this intensive, interactive session, attendees will:
• Understand the goal of Zero Net energy
• Understand the key characteristics of Zero Net Energy Homes and Passive House
• Understand how these buildings are designed ‘as a system’
• Learn how the key component and mechanical system decisions are made
• Learn how cost reduction can be done in super-insulated buildings
• See examples of key construction details, both plans and construction images
• Understand testing and verification criteria and methods
• See measured data on performance interpreted in super-insulated buildings
• Learn about marketing and other advantages of extremely low energy buildings
Mike Duclos will present with Bruce Coldham of Coldham and Hartman Architects, and Katrin Klingenberg, Executive Director of PHIUS, the Passive House Institute in the US "Extremely High Performance Homes: A Few Years On ..."
The co-founder of the Passive House Institute US, a long-time designer of high performance homes, and an experienced data monitoring consultant will review the progress of three CASE STUDY homes striving to achieve zero net annual energy status. The session will focus on the performance of these homes over the past few years, the systems failures and successes and how the failures were corrected. Review of the data and explanations of how the data can be interpreted to reveal subtle system design and performance flaws will be presented. * This session is accredited by BPI.
Paul Eldrenkamp will be on three panel discussions: "What's Happening in Germany and Upper Austria: Regional Models for Sustainability, Part I, II, III.
A multi-disciplinary quartet of "conference regulars" returning from their just-completed tour of Germany and Upper Austria will present their findings. They visited high performing building projects and attended one of the largest European Conferences and Trade Exhibitions. This promises to be a rather raw and wonderful outpouring; a spirited cross-engagement between the travelers and their audience. * This session is accredited by BPI.
February 10, 2011 - Better Buildings By Design - Sheraton Conference Center, Burlington, VT - 1:45 to 3:15
Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos will be co-presenting "Modeling and Marketing the Deep Energy Retrofit"
Come hear about the challenges faced and approaches used in successfully marketing and delivering deep energy retrofits to clients. This session will include discussion of design and energy modeling, HVAC design development, building envelope strategies (and compromises), estimating, technical and jobsite management issues encountered in the field during construction. Get a look at actual vs. modeled energy usage data and gain insights from lessons learned, both in the details and the big picture. - Residential / Intermediate - Sponsored by Efficiency Vermont.
Build Boston - November 17-19, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp solicited speakers for and organized the Passive House Symposium at Build Boston 2010, which was held at the Seaport Center, Boston, MA and was very well attended.
This symposium included:
The Passive House Experience in Europe and North America
Gunther Lang & Katrin Klingenberg
Passive House: Energy Budgets
Paul Eldrenkamp, Gunther Lang, John Straube, Marc Rosenbaum
Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)
Marc Rosenbaum
Passive House: HVAC System Design and Installation
Marc Rosenbaum, Mike LeBeau
Thermal Bridging, THERM and High Performance Buildings
David White
5th North American Passive House Conference, Portland, OR – November 4-7, 2010
Paul Panish and Mike Duclos presented at the Passive House poster session at the 5th North American Passive House Conference in Portland, OR, the evening of November 4th.
Paul presented the completed Beaton Passive House in Shrewsbury, MA, and Mike the Cape Cod Passive House under construction in Falmouth, MA.
This was an outstanding four day conference highlighted by in-depth technical sessions, visits to built Passive Houses in the area (including one renovation!) and the presence of Dr. Feist.
LDA Architects, Cambridge, MA – October 29, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp presented Introduction to Passive House to an enthusiastic group at LDA Architects in Cambridge, after which he and Mike answered questions.
Affordable Comfort Inc New England Conference – October 6-7 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos presented on “Using HERS as a Design and Sales Tool” to a near capacity audience at the Affordable Comfort New England Conference in Sturbridge, MA. Affordable Comfort Inc. is an outstanding national organization dedicated to advancing performance in residential buildings.
Deep Energy Retrofits Experts Session – October 5, 2010
Mike Duclos attended an ‘experts’ session to participate in refining the ‘state of the art’ in Deep Energy Retrofits by request of Building Science Corporation, who organized this extraordinary gathering.
Introduction to Passive House and Charlotte, VT Habitat Passive House – September 16, 2010
Mike Duclos, presenting Paul Eldrenkamp's now famous Introduction to Passive House and JB Clancy , architect of the Charlotte, VT Habitat Passive House presented the concept and implementation details of this extraordinary building in a whirlwind tour of Vermont. This home was the topic of a Vermont Public Radio piece and there is an associated audio slide show.
They gave presentations at noon in Williston, VT to more than 20 at the Vermont Home Builders Association.
Chet Pasho, Building Science & Business Development of Preferred Building Systems of Claremont, NH was in attendance to answer questions. PBS built the modules that comprise the Charlotte Passive House.
In the evening these presentations were repeated at the famous Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT to an an enthusiastic group of more than 50.
Along the way, JB Clancy (of Albert, Righter & Tittman Architects, Inc.) had the opportunity to show Mike the Charlotte Habitat Passive House, which had just been installed on the foundation on September 10.
Introduction to REM/Rate and PHPP as Modeling Tools - BSA – August 24, 2010
Mike Duclos presented on the widely used REM/Rate home energy modeling software, a product of Architectural Energy Corporation, which is widely used in ENERGY STAR for Homes programs throughout the Northeast, including the Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program, as well as ENERGY STAR programs in many other parts of the United States.
Paul Panish presented on the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) an incredibly detailed spreadsheet based building energy simulator used to design and certify Passive Houses at the Boston Society of Architects facility at Milk St. in Boston.
Introduction to Passive House – Design and Construction Strategy- BSA – August 17, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp, Paul Panish and Mike Duclos presented on the concept of Passive House, and introduced some of the more interesting aspects of the ‘most stringent building energy efficiency standard in the world’ at the Boston Society of Architects facility at Milk St. in Boston.
Habitat Passive House in Charlotte, VT – August 10, 2010
As part of a technical session scheduled by the Northeast HERS Alliance, Mike Duclos presented an Introduction to Passive House segue to Peter Schneider of Vermont Energy Investment Corporation's in depth presentation on the Charlotte, VT Habitat Passive House he designed in collaboration with architect JB Clancy. The presentation is available for viewing here.
Lemonister Stretch Code Hearing – June 17, 2010
Mike Duclos presented on the HERS rating system and answered questions at an open meeting on the adoption of the Stretch Code in Lemonister, MA, as requested by Kelly Brown of Department of Energy Resources of Massachusetts.
International Passive House Conference, Dresden, Germany – May 28-30, 2010
Mike Duclos attended the 14th International Passive House Conference with about one thousand other attendees from 43 countries. This remarkable event included the latest research results into Passive House compliant buildings, as well as tours of built and under construction Passive Houses. The conference proceedings are available here.
Mike Duclos and Paul Panish are making plans to attend the 15th International Passive House Conference in Innsbruck, Austria.
Introduction to Passive House, Rhode Island School of Design – May 15, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp, Jamie Wolfe and Mike Duclos collaborated on an all day session comprised of presentations and interaction on the topic of the Passive House standard in the United States in general, and in our climate zone in particular at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.
Deep Energy Retrofit Workshop, Hadley, MA– April 30, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos collaborated on an all day session of presentations and stimulating interaction with an enthusiastic group of 50 at the Western Mass Electric facility in Hadley, MA. This event was organized by Anne Perkins of Rural Development, Inc.Mike Duclos worked with Anne Perkins on the Solar Village project in Greenfield, MA.
Affordable Comfort National Conference, Austin, TX – April 20-23, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp and Linda Wigington, Director of Deep Energy Reduction Initiatives of ACI collaborated on an all day technical session on Staged Deep Energy Retrofits that encompassed all aspects of the DER process.
Mike Duclos was the energy consultant who worked with Linda Wigington to qualify Brian Butler's home (Boston Green Building) for the Thousand Homes Challenge Option B program of the National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot.
Residential Design and Construction Conference – April 14, 2010
Dr. Mary Beth Smuts of US EPA, and Mike Duclos collaborated on presentations of the Indoor airPLUS program for homes, and how the ENERGY STAR and HERS rating systems interact and can be leveraged to best effect. Mike's portion of the presentation is here.
Belmont Deep Energy Retrofit Site Visit – April 9, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos answered questions at the site of a National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot project as it was under construction. Paul’s company Byggmeister, Inc. was responsible for the construction process, Mike consulted on energy modeling.
Energy Modeling to Reduce Energy Use in Homes – JLC Live, Providence,RI, March 27, 2010
Mike Duclos presented on the ways in which energy use in homes can be minimized in the design phase by use of computer energy modeling at the Journal of Light Construction’s annual conference, JLC Live, in Providence, RI.
Mike's presentation is available here.
Deep Energy Retrofit Experts Meeting – Seaport Center, Boston, MA – March 12, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp, Paul Panish and Mike Duclos participated in this remarkable gathering to discuss and advance the ‘state of the art’ with respect to Deep Energy Retrofits, at the invitation of Building Science Corporation.
Getting to Zero Cost Effectively - NESEA Building Energy ’10 – March 11, 2010
Carter Scott, President of Transformations, Inc. and Mike Duclos collaborated on a presentation that described the design of the Transformations, Inc. Zero Energy Challenge entry. Mike also presented an interpretation of data collected over a winter, including a period of 7 days when power was lost for 7 days due to a massive ice storm, available here.
MassSave and Independent Energy Auditors - March 18, 2010
Paul Eldrenkamp and Mike Duclos participated in a meeting at Boston Gas in Westboro, MA of utility company representatives, independent energy auditors, insulation contractor representatives and DOER staff to discuss and hopefully expand the role of independent contractors in the MassSave program.
