[k__]

A friend of mine, who is an architect, told me the technology is ripe to build houses that produce even more energy than they consume, but people simply don't want to live in them.

The article talks about "using the best windows", the problem my friend saw in many of such houses was simply that the dwellers would either open the windows too often, losing all the heat, or feel miserable because they weren't allowed to open the windows. A pure psychological effect of course, even with the best ventilation people still had the urge to open a window and felt bad if they couldn't.

[spookthesunset]

> A pure psychological effect of course, even with the best ventilation people still had the urge to open a window and felt bad if they couldn't.

I wouldn't want to live in a house where I couldn't open the windows all the way. Near-perfect energy efficiency is something to strive for but there is something to be said for being able to open the window and get a nice breeze blowing through the house.

Even if it isn't the most energy efficient it's okay with me. I mean if we really wanted to get good energy efficiency we'd just remove all the windows completely. But we don't because we design building for the enjoyment of humans, not just for energy efficiency.

[throwaway984393]

I recently lived in a house with no external ventilation in one big room. Huuuge windows looking out onto a huge backyard full of trees and flowers. Yeah I missed being able to open the window and hear the birds. But then when lawnmowers started buzzing and dogs started barking, and later when winter hit, I was quite glad for the peace and quiet and no need to open them!

[pnutjam]

I never open my windows unless I'm trying to air out something.

[driverdan]

> the technology is ripe to build houses that produce even more energy than they consume, but people simply don't want to live in them

It's called solar. Unless the house has a small footprint most can fit enough solar panels to more than cover their energy use.

[spookthesunset]

> A pure psychological effect of course, even with the best ventilation people still had the urge to open a window and felt bad if they couldn't.

I wouldn't want to live in a house where I couldn't open the windows all the way. Near-perfect energy efficiency is something to strive for but there is something to be said for being able to open the window and get a nice breeze blowing through the house. Even if it isn't the most energy efficient it's okay with me.

[changoplatanero]

how do you ventilate without losing all the heat?

[CrazyStat]

Heat recovery ventilation [1] can bring in fresh air and output old air while recovering the vast majority of the heat.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_recovery_ventilation

[voisin]

These are only compatible with forced air systems, correct? I.e. using in-floor radiant heat would require an entirely separate ventilation system with heat recovery?

[CrazyStat]

Correct.

[thatguy0900]

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/whole-house-ventilation

Energy recovery ventilation systems gives a good description

[jhgb]

Recuperator ventilation, presumably?