Thornleigh Passive House

November has been relatively cool and comfortable (median temperature 18 °C). The split system was off for all but a two days in the middle of the month. The HRV oscilated between the 'heating' season and the 'no season'. Outside temperatures ranged from 7 to 30 °C, while inside we were a comfortable 19 to 25 °C. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the temperature range for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessTag sensors spread across nearly every room of the house. Outside is the data from the wirelessTag sensors outside near the cubby house and HRV intake.

October, the month started as winter and ended as summer, and I am not sure that spring even managed to visit inbetween. The split system was off for all but a few days at the start of the month. The HRV transitioned from the 'heating' season to the 'cooling' season with only a week or so inbetween (when setting the definition of the cooling season I count nightime openning of the house to drop the temperature as cooling)... and there have been many evenings with open windows towards the end of the month. Outside temperatures ranged from 6.7 to 28.9 °C, while inside we were a comfortable 18.9 to 25.4 °C. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the temperature range for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling in

September was wet, but not as cold. The split system was on (set to 23 °C during our typical winter solar generation period (10:00 am - 3:30pm), and off during the peak periods and overnight. The HRV transitioned from the 'heating' season to the inbetween seasons toward the end of the month. I started transitioning most of the indoor Wireless Tag sensors from the button battery variety to those that use a USB mains power adaptor, and the outdoor sensors to the proper outdoor sensors which should be more durable and less easily damaged by exposure to high mosture environments. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the same axes for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (

August was cold (average of 13 °C, the coldest hour was 4 °C, and warmest hour was 24 °C). The split system was on (set to 23 °C during our typical winter solar generation period (10:00 am - 3:30pm), mostly on 20 °C overnight (9pm - 6am), and off during the peak periods) and the HRV was solidly in 'heating' season all month. We had a couple people isolating for a couple weeks, but otherwise life was normal. Over the last couple months I've had a few conversations with folks from Better Renting and subsequently I've been looking at the WHO Housing and health guidelines . I am not sure why Passive House decided on 20 - 25 °C as their temperature range. WHO has set 18 °C as the recommended lower threashold temperature in winter months. I'll confess that when my house is over 24 °C in the winter months it can feel really warm, whereas in the summer indoor temperatures up to 26 or even 27 °C can feel quite comfortable. Especially over night winter temperatures much o

July was cold (average of 11 °C, the coldest hour was 1 °C, and warmest hour was 20 °C). The split system was on (set to 23 °C during our typical winter solar generation period (10:00 am - 3:30pm), 21 °C overnight (9pm - 6am), and off during the peak periods) and the HRV was solidly in 'heating' season all month. School holidays during the first two weeks of July and we (gasp) went on a trip away from home for most of the first week, but otherwise one parent was typically working from home. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the same axes for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data fro

June was cold (the coldest hour was 2 °C and warmest hour was 19.7 °C). The split system was on (set to 23 °C during our typical winter solar generation period (10:00 am - 3:30pm),  21 °C overnight (9pm - 6am), and off during the peak periods) and the HRV was solidly in 'heating' season all month. School is back so the kids were at school, but on most days one parent was working from home. We were open for the International Passive House Open Days (June 25) and we had ~ 100 people through the house. Lots of people were very interested in Passive Houses as comfortable / affordable dwellings. We will likely be hosting visitors in November (11-13) as well. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the same axes for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined

May (like the other months this year) has been cloudy with a fair bit of rain, although we generated about what we did last year (349kWh in 2022 vs 358kWh in 2021). The split system was sheduled to heat to ~ 22 °C during the day (~ 10:00 - 17:00) and the HRV was mainly in the 'heating' season. School is back so the kids were at school, but one parent was often working from home. While the outdoor temperature was mainly cool, we had a few really warm days which lead to a bit less time in range, but in was a comfortable month inside! Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the same axes for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and

April has been cloudy with a fair bit of rain, so we haven't been generating much electricity. The split system was off and the HRV was solidly in between a 'cooling' or 'heating' season. School is back so the kids were at school (except for the two week Easter break), but at least one parent was working from home on most days. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hope that I will be able to use the same axes for all months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessTag sensors spread across nearly every room of the house. Outside is the data from the wirelessTag sensors outside near the cubby house and

More press... Thornleigh Passive House was pictured in the Climate Council's report " TENTS TO CASTLES:Building Energy Efficient, Cost-Saving Aussie Homes " (Figure 10). I was also interviewed for an ABC News article on the Climate Council's report and improving the quality of Australian buildings (2022.Apr.21). Another interview for an article in The Green List  (2022.May.16). Another interview for an article in the Daily Telegraph ( paywalled )....

March has been super wet (very cloudy and lots of rain ), so we haven't been generating much electricity and we ran the dehumidifier on 5 days. The split system was on an automatic mode for 10 days of the month (cooling from 10:00 - 18:15) and the HRV was solidly in 'cooling season' until the last week of the month. The HRV did a great job of keeping the house in the comfort zone. School is back, so the kids were at school, but at least one parent was working from home on most days. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hopes that they will be comparable across months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessT

Rain. Lots of rain! As of midnight last night we have recorded: 1352mm for the year, and counting at the rain comes down today. Already passed 3 of the last 7 years andclosing quickly closing in on the most rain recorded. The water tank is beyond full and has been overflowing for the last month. Rain data from my backyard gauge... Year annual total (mm) Year to date (mm) % of annual total 2022 >1340 1340   2021 1382 740 53% 2020 1475 675 46% 2019 1439 647 45% 2018 1187 246 21% 2017 1059 650 61% 2016 1332 526 39% 2015 1363 338 25% Mean 1320 556 41%

February has been wet (very cloudy and lots of rain), so we haven't been generating generating much electricity and we ran the dehumidifier on 4 days. The split system was on an automatic mode most of the month (cooling from 10:00 - 18:15) and the HRV was solidly in 'cooling season'. The HRV did a great job of keeping the house in the comfort zone. School is back, so the kids were at school, but at least one parent was working from home on most days. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hopes that they will be comparable across months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessTag sensors spread across nearly ev

January has been a comparatively cool / wet, so while we have had a fairly easy time staying in the comfort zone, we haven't been generating generating much electricity. The split system was on an automatic mode most of the month (cooling from 10:00 - 18:15) and the HRV was solidly in 'cooling season'. The HRV did a great job of keeping the house in the comfort zone. School holidays, so the kids were at home, so at least one parent was at home... We were mostly at home... again. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hopes that they will be comparable across months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessTag sens

December and the new normal. The split system was on an automatic mode most of the month (cooling from 10:00 - 18:15) and the HRV was solidly in 'cooling season'. The HRV did a great job of keeping the house in the comfort zone. The kids were in school for the first half of the month and the parents are were in the office a few days a week, but we were mostly at home... again. Temperature from inside and outside the house as the percentage of hours in 0.5 °C bins. I've scaled the temperature in hopes that they will be comparable across months. Methods: I have taken the 5 minutely data from the wirelessTag sensors and calculated the median temperature for each hour and determined the proportion of hours falling inside of the 20 - 25 °C target temperature (using the R functions 'aggregate' and 'hist'). Inside includes data from the wirelessTag sensors spread across nearly every room of the house. Outside is the data from the wirelessTag sensors outside