Our project is located in Park Slope in a Landmark Preservation District. That means that any changes we make to the outside of the building that can be seen from any public street needs to gain approval from Landmark Preservation. While I am a strong proponent of Landmark Preservation in general terms, I feel that sometimes the individual rules are pushed too far and border on historical realism which should be something left to the theme parks.
We have recently run into some of these rules regarding window replacements. In order for our project to be a Passive House, we have to have a very, very good U-value performance (U-value is the inverse of R-value), a high SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient; varies in different climates and zones), and an airtight frame assembly. There are currently only two manufacturers of windows on this continent that just barely meet those requirements - Serious Windows (http://www.seriouswindows.com/), and Thermotech Windows (http://www.thermotechwindows.com/). The problem is that both of these window makers make Fiberglass windows, because it is extremely difficult to make wood windows that have low enough U-Values to meet Passive House...which brings us back to Landmark Preservation. According to Landmarks, the windows must be the same material, operation, finish, glazing size, frame size, and division as the original windows. Therefore when we submitted to Landmark Preservation our super-insulated, triple pane, painted fiberglass windows as casements (with a foax bar in the middle to simulate double-hung windows) we were rejected at the staff level. We now have to do the full Community Board and Landmark Preservation Board meetings which is a multi-month process.
We have now changed the design with Optiwin Windows for the front and the Thermotech windows for the back. The Optiwin windows are being made and shipped directly from Germany and we are having to have the frames custom made to have a fixed upper sash and a tilt and turn lower sash that is staggered back to look like double-hung from the street. While the final bid for these windows is not in yet, the cost of the shipping itself is staggering. These are the only wood windows though that we could use to hopefully satisfy Landmarks as well as Passive House Standards. Luckily, we have a client who is deeply committed to the project and is willing to steer between these unfortunately conflicting requirements.
For me, this brings up a larger issue that we have to face very quickly as a society. Does it make sense for us to take a window in time and freeze it (as is the case of Landmark Preservation) at the expense of our ecosystem? I hope that the political pressure will build soon to make clear that our environment takes precedence over most other concerns. What will a beautiful street matter if there are no people able to live in it? It is my belief though, and I think this project when completed will help prove the point, that aesthetic considerations do not have to be sacrificed for environmental ones. Sustainable design has no one style, and I look forward to the day when we will no longer need to make the distinction between 'Sustainable' design and design itself.
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Beautiful project, beautiful goal. I empathise with the challenges you face in converting an existing home to a passive house in the face of the architectural restrictions. It is difficult enough to educate the public on why it is so important to embrace PH design and quality. The additional restrictions you face serve no one's long term interests. While I respect and admire the reasoning behind protecting architecturally significant neighbourhoods and buildings, PH renovations must be seen as an enhancement to these projects and embraced as the solution to save old buildings. Without critical improvements in the face of rising energy prices, these beautiful buildings face the real prospect of being left empty when occupants cannot afford to heat and cool them.
ReplyDeleteOptiwin windows are a wonderful solution to the architectural challenges but without a local manufacturing partner, come at a hefty price. I beleive that Paulus is looking for a North American partner to manufacture locally in the future. Perhaps your trials will open the market for others and assist in justifying an Optiwin factory for our market on this side of the pond.
Kyle Gregoire
Passive Homes Canada
www.lapicohomes.com