High-performance is inherently linked to higher first-day cost. Most assume that it only exists at the top of the market. Affordability is often confused with cheap upfront cost. The two present a seemingly irreconcilable conundrum. TE Studio’s approach defines affordability as something that is financially sustainable over a given period of time. Within this paradigm, first-day costs become a line item on a laundry list of lifecycle cost an owner is typically faced with. The Synergy case study aims to clarify the difference between first-day cost and total cost of ownership, thus redefining affordability and the impact of high-performance design on sustainable and financially viable structures in cold climates (Climate Zone 6). Synergy is a highly energy efficient, durable and flexible compact home designed as a conversation starter which aims to make high performance accessible to a broad section of owners and developers. Entirely designed without client input and in our free time, Synergy is TE Studio’s testbed for affordability as well as high-performance assemblies and systems. Synergy has not been built but is currently being considered by different entities for projects in 2012. The slideshow contains a lot of full-screen images but no subtitles, therefore omitting some of the information which would have been given verbally during the presentation.

1. holistic design for
sustainable homes
• comfort
• economy
• ecology
• quality
• durability
• beauty
• functionality
• health
STUDIO:
3429 Benjamin St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-246-4670
testudio.com
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE™ CONSULTANT

2. Case Study: Affordable High-Performance
SYNERGY

3. CONCEPT

4. AFFORDABILITY
• Adapts to lifestyle
• Low (no) utility cost
• Low maintenance
• Low first-day cost

5. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
• High comfort
• Very healthy
• Low environmental impact
• Super functional
• Aesthetically pleasant

6. DESIGN

7. FIRST FLOOR
0 2' 4' 8' N
First Floor Plan
1.COVERED ENTRY
2.ENTRY
9 8 7 3.KITCHEN
4.DINING
5.LIVING
6.YARD ACCESS
7.ACCESSIBLE
6 BEDROOM
8.ACCESSIBLE BATH
& LAUNDRY
9.STORAGE &
1 2 3 4 5 MECHANICAL

8. SECOND FLOOR
Second Floor Plan
1.STUDY/
BEDROOM 2
6 5 4 2.FAMILY ROOM
3.BEDROOM 3
4.BEDROOM 4
5.BATH
6.STORAGE
1 2 3

9. ALTERNATE

10. ENVELOPE
24"
24"
19 5/8" 21 3/8"
19 5/8"
Wood, site-built Wood, prefab ICF

11. ENVELOPE
Flat roof Cold roof

12. ENVELOPE
Slab on grade Basement

13. WINDOWS, DOORS & SHADING

14. MECHANICAL RESPONSE
DHW approx. 1kW Solar thermal with electric
[3.4 kBTU/h] resistance backup
Heating approx. 3kW Ductless air-to-air heat pump with
[10.2 kBTU/h] electric resistance backup
SYNERGY
standard model Cooling approx. 2kW
[6.8 kBTU/h] Ductless air-to-air heat pump
Ventilation 150 m^3/h
[88 CFM] HRV with home-run ducts

15. ENERGY

16. MODELS
• Base
Built to Minnesota code minimum R-values
• Advanced
Recommended R-Values for climate zone 6 by Building Science Cooperation
• Synergy
Passive House

17. ENVELOPES
WALLS
ROOF (FLAT)
SLAB
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY
WALLS R-19 R-35 R-58
ROOF R-38 R-60 R-77
SLAB R-10 R-10 R-44
U-0.33 U-0.24 U-0.13
WINDOWS SHGC- 0.35 SHGC- 0.50 SHGC- 0.52-0.64
ACH_50 3 1.5 0.6

18. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY
VENT. EXHAUST ONLY HRV: 75% HRV: 90%
NATURAL GAS FURNACE: NATURAL GAS FURNACE:
HEATING 85% 94%
HEAT-PUMP: COP 2
NATURAL GAS WATER NATURAL GAS WATER SOLAR THERMAL
DHW HEATER HEATER & ELECTRIC
COOLING AC AC HEAT-PUMP

19. HEAT LOSSES
Heat Loss
25000kWh/a
Fenestration Transmission Losses
Slab Transmission Losses
Roof Transmission Losses
20000kWh/a Exterior Walls Transmission Losses
Ventilation Losses
15000kWh/a
10000kWh/a
5000kWh/a
0kWh/a
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY

20. HEAT GAINS
Passive vs. Active
25000
Active Heating (net)
Solar & Internal Gains
Heat Losses
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY

21. ENERGY DEMANDS
Heating and Energy Demands Comparison
300kWh/(qm a)
Specific Annual Heating Demand
Specific Site Energy Demand
Specific Primary Energy Demand
200kWh/(qm a)
100kWh/(qm a)
0kWh/(qm a)
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY

22. NET ZERO ENERGY
BASE
Heating (active)
DHW (active)
Cooling (active)
Household Electricity
Heat & DHW (passive)
SYNERGY
BASE ADVANCED SYNERGY
PV- array 25.0 kWp 14.0 kWp 4.5 kWp
PV-area 2150 sf 1204 sf 387 sf
Costs $125,000 $70,000 $22,500

23. LIFE CYCLE COST

24. MODELS
• Base
Built to Minnesota code minimum R-values
• Synergy
Passive House
• Synergy net zero
Passive House inc. PV

25. INITIAL COST
BASE SYNERGY DIFFERENCE
Building envelope 54,291 $ 66,315 $ 122%
Fenestration 18,800 $ 51,632 $ 275%
Mechanicals 17,700 $ 23,300 $ 132%
Other 108,058 $ 108,058 $ 100%
Site 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 100%
Total 248,849 $ 299,305 $ 120%
PV for Zero Energy 125,000 $ 22,500 $ 18%
Total Zero Energy 373,849 $ 321,805 $ 86%

26. MAINTENANCE
• Windows
• Water management
• Building envelope upgrades
➡ FACTOR 2 (likely more)

27. UTILITIES
• Electricity: 0.10 $/kWh
• Natural gas: 1.10 $/Therm
• Inflation: 6.5%

28. RESULTS
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
$900,000
BASE
SYNERGY
SYNERGY NET ZERO
$675,000
$450,000
$225,000
$0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

29. SUMMARY

30. PERFORMANCE DELIVERED
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• Adapts to lifestyle ✓
• Low (no) utility cost ✓
• Low maintenance ✓
• Low first-day cost ✓
• High comfort ✓ SYNERGY
• Very healthy ✓
• Super functional ✓
• Aesthetically pleasant ✓
• Low environmental impact ✓

31. Thank you!
testudio.com