ARE YOU PLANNING....

OUR MISSION:

a Renovation?

Our mission is to help you understand your renovation plans.

to Finish a Basement?

We determine for you the annual Energy Load and Greenhouse Gas

to Add an Extra Floor?

(GHG)

savings for your renovation options.

to Upgrade Windows?

We model your home to help you understand its impact on Climate,

to Add Attic Insulation?

so you can join the Climate Solution and a Greening Economy.

anything else, etc ?

Terms/Conditions

Designed for

Do-It-Yourself

homeowners, we help you compare options regarding: Energy Savings,

MORE DETAILS on how this works

GHG Emissions, Opportunity, and Cost; so your plan will be well thought out.

SAMPLE TABLES AND CHARTS FROM FINAL REPORTS

These are a few examples taken from Final Reports to display what the final model results look like.

Example 1

This Building Envelope Technology example in the cool temperate zone of North America shows

that the starting point was to insulate the basement and prevent massive heat losses.

This Table shows the results of some of the models, and how they change the net energy balance.

Example 2

This particular home in the sub-tropical zone of North America shows that

Thermal Shutters were the best option for addressing the cooling concerns.

This Chart compares the calculated Heat Loss and the expected Solar Gains for the year.

Example 3

This result in a cold temperate zone shows how half of the heat required is supplied by Passive Solar.

It also explains the overheating problem in the summer. Here is an opportunity to examine thermal storage.

This 3D Chart shows the Solar Gains of a window, and how it varies with Time of Day and Season of year.

Example 4

This example of the Solar Gains performance for this North facing window shows the seasonal

and geometric effects for this project site.

Example 5

** Sample Under Development **

Here we see where

the different renovations

take your house

in GHG, Energy space.

This summary diagram shows the relative effects of the different renovation options.

DATA FORMS

HTML Version

PDF Version

(If you need ADOBE Acrobat reader, get it here)

(Opens in Browser)

Open Main Data Form

Open Window & Wall Data Form

Open Site Data Form

Open Example Form

Open Order Form

e-mail to: Passive Solar Assessments

passive1solar3@gmail.com

Price List

There are many ways to proceed to suit your needs:

$ CAN

Full Model Package - with Site Data enclosed

Visit our Store

(site visits are not included nor are they possible)

look at / print the forms and complete them

mail them in with your payment cheque or money order

we will mail or e-mail your report according to your preference

(site visits are not included nor are they possible)

complete the forms and e-mail them back

mail your payment cheque or money order

we will mail or e-mail your report according to your preference

If you need multiple uses of this service, there are 2 other bulk purchase options

in both cases, you will receive coupons with authentication codes to use on your form

5 Model Bulk Set

Discontinued

10 Model Bulk Set

Discontinued

Contractors

If you have more frequent need of this service, e-mail us to find

out how you can benefit from our volume discount plan.

e-mail to: Passive Solar Assessments

passive1solar3@gmail.com

How it Works / General Overview

This service is designed for the Do-It-Yourself homeowner.

You can collect the data at your own pace, at your convenience, for maximum savings.

You only pay for the analysis. It is best for Houses and Townhouses, and not recommended for condos because of restrictions.

If you cannot collect the data yourself, ask a friend or neighbour for help. Even your contractor can do this for you in preparation

for your renovations. Additionally, the Assessment could be used in a science fair context, which maximizes family involvement.

Lots of data is required to analyze a home. All windows transmit heat in or out, and transmit solar energy.

Check out the Forms and the Example

All walls conduct heat in or out, and all wall segments do so at their own rates determined by insulation levels.

The same is true for ceilings and basements. Basements can be messy because of partial insulation levels and varied uses.

Exterior landscaping can provide shade or not depending on geometries.

Then, all of these are affected by location, site orientation and climate.

As a result, a lot of detailed information is required to make a good model.

Therefore, take a look at the data sheets to see if this service is right for you.

Details that you may not know, like the wall construction detail, can be estimated for you if you provide the total wall thickness OR,

if you have an opportunity to open the wall, then you can provide details.

The building orientation is easy by using a compass or reporting the time of shadow alignment.

For the Attic, you should find the Attic Hatch ( usually in a closet or hallway), and measure the insulation level.

The window positions on each wall are required, as are corners in outside walls because they can cast shadows.

The trees, shrubs, hedges and other obstacles are needed on the Property Plan View.

For large distances, it is good enough to pace out the distance in steps provided you measure and report your step size.

1 step = toe-to-toe or heel-to-heel on alternating feet is typically 24 inches. It is best to measure your own.

Choose one set of units for reporting: inches, decimal feet, cm, or meters.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

This looks kind of involved. Is all the information really required?

Yes. The more information we have, the better the model will be. For example, the more precisely the windows and shade objects

are known, the more accurate the model will determine solar gains. The same is true for R values. Any missing information will be

supplemented by approximate, typical values and normal building practices. This is reasonable since the model is mostly a difference model,

so the before and after uncertainties tend to cancel out.

Why not just call an Architect?

An Architect will have these modeling tools in their design software. However, they may not be the right resource to evaluate your options.

If you engage one to design an addition, or extra floor, you can ask for these details to be looked at.

More significantly, this service is designed for the individual homeowner in a Do-It-Yourself framework. This service

can then be more cost effective and can be a quick answer to your renovation priority questions.

How will this save me money?

The % savings quoted can be applied to your energy use. However, you do have to separate Hot Water, Heating, and Cooling

categories to do this. Unfortunately this can be complex and we don't have a module for that at this time.

Are there rebates available?

We are not affiliated with any Government program or Industry incentive. However, you are encouraged to seek out those

Local and Regional programs to help improve your home since the Greenhouse Gas savings will follow.

In addition, there are 3 levels of credits applied in order to keep the cost of this service down.

Firstly, since the United Nations is working hard to co-ordinate Climate Change efforts through the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention

on Climate Change) and the Paris Accord, a credit is applied for Nations becoming signatory to it.

Secondly, since there are numerous activities, programs, and incentives at Provincial, State and Local levels (US EPA -

US Environmental Protection Agency, ECCC - Environment and Climate Change Canada for example), a credit has been designed

and applied on their behalf.

Thirdly, because of the leadership and encouragement of individuals and organizations (like the Citizen's Climate Lobby and other

notable individuals) a credit has been designed and applied to recognize their efforts.

Why use cheques for payment?

Some Customers prefer it. Additionally, Cheques are a more secure (but slower) way of providing payment these days since all the nefarious

attention is on the 3rd party databases which represent lucrative targets.

Why can't I use e-Payment providers?

To order your Report, please visit our online Shopify store.

Visit our Store

This site is not e-commerce enabled, and is mostly for informational purposes so you can see what is involved in the process.

Why do you offer so many options on your Order Form?

Since this is a do-it-yourself resource, it was set up for individual projects allowing for e-mail and regular mail methods.

This way, no-one is left out. In addition, it allows for flexibility in sending in results and the data can be collected when convenient.

Greenhouse Gasses, GHG? Please refresh my memory?

Most notably CO₂ is a gas which, in high enough amounts, influences climate through its physical properties. It effectively blocks

the transmission of Infra-Red (heat) radiation so our biosphere does not cool effectively. This is evidenced by long term average annual

global temperature rise. In addition, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone also contribute and they are frequently

lumped together and the issue is relabeled as "CO₂ equivalents", as in CO₂e.

Passive Solar Assessments does not make any client data available to any outside parties unless required by Court Order

or by Law.

Terms and Conditions

No part of this site or reports may be used for any purpose without written permission.

PSA does not warrant any results or recommendations, and does not guarantee that any improvements will actually be

realized, and does not assume any liability for actions taken by homeowners, agents or contractors based on the analysis.