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| the back of the house, not the large roof trusses for added insulation |
Yesterday I rode all the way up Henderson Highway to investigate a Passive House retrofit. I have been hearing more and more about the technology lately. The system used has been in development for the last 40 years, perhaps since the R-2000 homes, but still hasn't hit the market with much strength.
In the attached photos, you can see the roof trusses, window bucks, and Larson trusses adding 2 feet of cellulose insulation everywhere around the house in what is called a "Chainsaw Retrofit". Except on the sides, where the width of the house is limited by property lines. Here they used polystyrene. It's incredible the levels of insulation Passive House calls for. The idea is to reduce heating loads, as the heat has nowhere to escape. No thermal bridges, or gaps allowing air in/exfiltration. The taped plywood also acts as the vapour barrier, residing safely somewhere in the centre of the insulation. This retrofit is being conducted by Sun Certified Builders Coop Ltd., located in Winnipeg, MB. I hope to revisit this project as it progresses into the Spring.
