Qatar Case Study Passivhaus Project

The Baytna Scientific Partnership

Dr. Alex Amato

Dr. Cynthia Skelhorn
Qatar Green Building Council
May 2014

Passivhaus Concept
Aim - to reduce the
space heating/cooling
demand and primary
energy consumption
Initially conceived for
cooler regions
Considered as:
a robust energy
performance spec; and
a holistic low energy
design concept.
Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Thermal comfort achieved

through passive measures:
Good insulation, minimal
thermal bridges
Reducing solar gains and
internal heat sources (for
warm climates)
Excellent airtightness
Good indoor air quality, due
to whole house mechanical
ventilation system, highly
efficient energy recovery

Performance Characteristics
Airtight building shell 0.6 ACH @ 50 Pa pressure
Annual cooling allowance 15 kWh/m2/year
Primary Energy 120 kWh/m2/year

Recommendations, varying with climate:

Window u-value 0.8 W/m2/K
Ventilation system with heat recovery with
75% efficiency, low electric consumption @ 0.45
Wh/m3 (in our case, we have a very efficient AC
unit with energy recovery)
Thermal Bridge Free Construction 0.01 W/mK
Presentation Title

Baytna Scientific Partnership

Testing the Passivhaus Concept in Qatar

Presentation Title

Baytna Scientific Partnership

After visiting a Passivhaus in Europe in 2012
BARWA Real Estate decided on a demonstration
project to test the applicability of the Passivhaus
concept in the hot arid climate of Qatar and the
wider GCC Region
Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) was
selected as the technical and scientific partner for
the project
This partnership includes Kahramaa, electricity
and water utility providers in Qatar, and the
Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning

Baytna Scientific Partnership

The project constructed both a Passivhaus villa
and a Business As Usual (BAU) villa (quickly
nicknamed the Im-Passivhaus) that will act as a
control for the experiment
The two villas are now completed and located in
BARWA City South West of Doha, Qatars capital
city
The villas will be inhabited by two similar families
with one or two young children and monitored for
3-5 years
Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Location of Passivhaus

Presentation Title

Baytna Scentific Partnership

Main project aims, comparing the Passivhaus Villa
to BAU villa, are:
50% reduction in annual:
operational energy consumption
water consumption;
CO2e emissions;
Additional construction (capital) costs of
achieving this performance is no more than 1520% of the capital cost of the BAU villa;
Passivhaus villa can be certified to meet the
Passivhaus standards by the Passivhaus
Institute or similar authority
Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Passivhaus Design Elements

Passivhaus Design

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Passivhaus Design

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Passivhaus Design

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Passivhaus Design

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Standard House Wall Construction

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Passivhaus Wall Construction

Qatar Case Study Passivhaus

Design for Qatar

Wall construction:
370 mm extruded polystyrene insulation
mm external render finish
200 mm masonry wall (compared to 150 mm external
/100 mm internal concrete block with 50 mm air gap in
BAU)

Triple glazed windows and doors

Skylight in atrium with louvres that open/close with
sun angle
PV array for daytime power
Black and grey water recycling
Presentation Title

Energy Modelling Using IES-VE

Solar PV with a peak power of
34 kilowatt
Will produce around 58,000
kWh of electricity per year,
helping avoid about 35 metric
tons of CO2 emissions per
year
Solar power will provide all of
Passivhaus electricity
requirements, with excess
power to be fed into
Kahramaas power grid during
the day
Presentation Title

Scientific Experiments
Since its initiation the project
has also become the vehicle for
a number of additional discreet
experiments

Solar Power (PV) Supply

Participating Companies and Institutions
Qatar Solar Technologies, Kahramaa
Aims
Determine amount of energy that can be
generated and fed back to the Kahramaa
power grid and total amount of carbon
emissions avoided through installed solar
panels.
Integral to one of the main aims of the overall
project, which is to determine whether carbon
neutrality can be achieved by the building
design

BIONEST
Participating Companies and Institutions
Bionest, Kahramaa, BARWA, MMUP,
ConocoPhillips, QSE, QGBC and TAMU. Other
interested parties are likely to be Ashghal and the
Ministry of Environment.
Project Aims
To test the application of the BIONEST system (a
biological process consisting of an extended
aeration submerged fixed film bioreactor) for
recycling both black and grey water in Qatar

Bionest system

Polypipe Terrain
Participating Companies and Institutions
Polypipe Terrain, Kahramaa, BARWA, AECOM, MMUP and
GORD + QGBC and TAMU.
Aims
Polypipe Terrain experiment features a new irrigation
technique that delivers water to the root base of shrubs
and trees eliminating wasted water. The purpose is to
determine the water savings that can be achieved
through the use of sub-soil irrigation.
Methodology
A comparative experiment has been devised with 50% of
the landscape irrigated by sub-soil irrigation and 50%
irrigated by regular good practice. The water for irrigation
for both methods will be measured and the health and
growth of the shrubs and trees monitored.

Paint Experiment
Participating Companies and Institutions
QGBC, Hempel Paints, National Paints,
Siemens, TAMU-Q, BRE, ETA-Star
Aims
To test the efficacy of external paints in
reducing heat gain through the building
envelope
Methodology
Three different paint systems will be tested
on the West wall of each house, measuring
temperatures and heat flux

Vegetation Experiment
Project Aims
This experiment will test the effectiveness of
shading through vegetation on the West Elevation
of the house.
Methodology
Heat flux meters installed at 3 locations along
the west wall, all at the same height, at equal
spacing along the length of the wall at both
Passive House and BAU house.

PV Array Cleaning
Participating Companies and Institutions
QS Tec, Kahramaa, Siemens, AECOM, TAMU
Aims
This experiment will test a cleaning method using
a large movable wiper blade to determine the most
cost-effective method of cleaning
Methodology
Half the PV array fitted with the new cleaning
device and compared to manual cleaning
Energy generated by both sections will be
compared along with capital cost, water
consumption and maintenance issues associated
with each cleaning method

Effect of Thermal Mass

Participating Companies and Institutions
AECOM, BARWA, GORD, ETS Insulation, QSE and
MMUP + QGBC and TAMU.
Aims
To test the effectiveness of thermal mass in
reducing heat flow to the interior and reducing air
conditioning usage and costs.
Equipment and Methods
Temperature profile and heat flow through the
walls and roof structural elements will be
monitored through use temperature sensors, heat
flux meters, and comparison of air conditioning
loads.

GSAS and LEED Assessment

Participating Companies and Institutions
GORD, BARWA, QSE, and MMUP + QGBC and
TAMU
Aims
To assess the two villas using two different
sustainability rating systems - LEED and
GSAS
Methodology
A number of aspects of each system that arise
during application will be compared: ease of
use, the extent of input requirements, impact on
the design team and process, and final scores,
normalised around a carbon benchmark.

Embodied Energy
Participating Companies and Institutions
AECOM, BARWA, GORD, ETS Insulation, QSE
and MMUP + QGBC and TAMU
Aims
To determine the total energy and associated
carbon emissions involved in the construction
of each house.
Methodology
Assessment will be made, using Life Cycle
Assessment methods, of the energy used in the
materials, transport, and construction methods
of each house.

Additional Studies Being Developed

UV Treatment of Wastewater
Examination of Possible Capital
Impact on Regulation and New Build
Construction
Solar Hot Water
Building Information Modelling Demonstration

Thank you

Dr. Alex Amato

Dr. Cynthia Skelhorn

Qatar Green Building Council