Unfortunately, it’s already here. In the Chicago area, we have the first certified passive house. It’s a building that’s 10 times more airtight than code. It uses a ductless heat pump system and an energy recovery ventilation unit that brings in outside air turning over the volume of the house every three hours. In addition, it has a solar water heater and a five kilowatt-per-hour photovoltaic array.
The problem with the description above is that it doesn’t mention the exact indoor temperature especially on a warm July day. Also, a heat pump in the Chicago area seems insufficient for those really cold Chicago winter days. The architect, Brandon Weiss, who worked in Germany, has really sold a lot of folks on this nonsense. But what do I know? I’m just a local architect and contractor.
Local governments have really jumped on the bandwagon. Cook County now requires the recycling of at least 70% construction waste.
An air-to-air heat pump isn't just "insufficient" on cold winter days, it will usually produce ZERO heat. In order to produce heat, the heat pump evaporator temperature must always be lower than air temperature. When the evaporator temperature is at the "dew Point" ("frost point" when below freezing), it simply clogs up with frost and produces no heat at all. This is almost all the time on cold, humid days.
“It’s a building that’s 10 times more airtight than code.”
But...the first time someone farts in the house during football season after Polish sausage, pizza, and beer during a Bears game, there will be casualties.