The less the knowledge, the better the (shown) results.“ This proverb should never be applied in Civil Engineering works, not even in the field of energy calculations of a building. The technical documentations should provide clear evaluation guidelines and, whenever possible, plenty of straightforward information. Thanks to the subsidy programs of the Czech Republic, which are finally being applied to passive buildings, the issue of energy calculations has suddenly become important for planners and the administrators of the programs. Refining the definition of zero-energy buildings will be a key issue in the near future. Zero energy buildings should be understood as a logical continuation of passive buildings, a reasonable addition to active energy components.

The paper describes the role and necessity of water in floor screeds and provides examples of damages caused by moisture. Water is an integral part of many of the widespread construction materials. However, in relation to floor toppings, it poses a risk to their durability. Recent examples show that floor damages caused by moisture are still a current issue. Partly due to the design of potentially hazardous structures and partly due to incorrect detail implementation or to the pressure to shorten necessary technological pauses.

While in Germany and Austria this kind of buildings are already a common sight, in the Czech Republic it was celebrated as a local pioneer. The calcium and sand structure with a gabled roof supported by glass rubble, which was certified by the Passivhausinstitut Dr Wofgang Feist y Darmstadt, has passed a wide range of technical measurements and numerous visits. We attended one of them.

Dry floors are among the proven and technically perfect materials of our times. The paper brings attention to the need to know about what should be below and above the structure. Only then these structures will be realised without mistakes by both designers and builders. The system of floor layers is an important link on the chain of fast, economical and modern building methods. It is important to know not only the structure, but also the composition and design of the dry flooring systems, the design solutions that use dry flooring elements and aim to improve the acoustic and technical thermal parameters of the floors.

Durability and functional reliability of buildings and structures of wood and wood based materials is significantly influenced by moisture content of these materials. In the article we report the results of measurement of moisture in the wood samples mounted between the outer walls with air chambers and comparing the measured values ​​with values ​​calculated by us in the recommended way of moisture balance in the construction according to ČSN 73 0540.

The article introduces the basic requirements for properties of materials using phase change in construction. These substances are known as PCM. Furthermore, the article deals with the possible chemical composition of the PCM, the advantages and disadvantages of phase transitions.

The hot-air treatment of the roof truss of the Upper Church in the village of Velká Lhota at Dačice is documented in stepwise details as a graphical and textual presentation with supporting charts and photographs. In addition to a mycological analysis, a project preparation plan and the main heat treatment technology, a detailed operations schedule is introduced as well as temperature measurement, supporting constructions and heat penetration. The writers’ utmost objectiveness towards this method is demonstrated by thermal camera images of the critical sites and cavities attacked by fungi. The article provides a comprehensive overview of application practices with all necessary recommendations, including the final application of chemical preservatives on the already heat-treated wooden framing.

The higher insulations standards for windows used in the construction of passive houses usually result in lower energy permeability of the glazing. Whether it is more efficient the use of triple or double glazing will depend on the orientation and shading of the windows, and will also be related to the characteristics of the whole building and the way it is used, specially the size of the internal gains. A study conducted on groups of apartment buildings, using multiple simulations, evaluates the impact of the properties of the glazing and the resulting heating needs for various conditions of shading, insulation and size of the internal gains.

Today, if a standard windows and doors consider single-frame windows and doors from plastic and aluminum profiles and wood “Euro” profile, non-standard, in terms of representation on the Czech market, include lining windows, skylights, interior doors and door frames, and light tubes. A very special par is fire resistant windows and fire resistant interior and exterior doors with declared reaction to fire, which are not the topic of the paper.

The paper is contribution to the topic of reconstruction and revitalisation of panel buildings. In two examples possible solution of replacement of steel railing of loggia by masonry railing in a panel system T08B is shown.

The paper is focused on some new types of timber structures made from solid timber, glued laminated timber and wood based materials. Especially glued laminated timber is a highly engineered material, because large sizes of structural members and the possibility of various shapes in beams, frames and arches are available. The analysis of intensive loaded structures with large spans shows clearly that to the most advantageous types of connections belong those made by means of steel elements. The analysis of the slip of joints and supports ranks among important issues in designing timber structures. The paper summarises some experience and conclusions from the construction of timber systems with steel-to-timber joints.

There’s still big potential to make building cheaper, including building of passive houses. If the passive house building is optimalised and uncomplicated, It can be much cheaper than classic building. This paper analyses the building of family passive house in the Czech Republic step by step by the author himself.

Over 5000 buildings in Austria have been constructed in the passive standard. In the future, a considerable part of new constructions should be build in the passive standard. The goal is to have all subsidised residential buildings built in the passive standard by 2015. The aim of the study was to learn from the first residential complexes of passive buildings. The main questions were: Do the passive buildings meet the ambitious expetations of the project? How satisfied are the people living in them? What additional construction costs can be expected and what are the actual energy savings compared to conventional residential complexes?

The quality of a wooden building depends (among other things) on the materials of the supporting structures. Within a research project, load tests were carried out on two different wood and concrete roofing structures that used recycled materials.

As in other countries, in Norway energy remediation is carried out mostly on an average level. For a decade, this has blocked highly effective energy saving measures in public housing because better energy remediation measures pay off only after a long time. Myhrerenga is the first block of flats in Norway renovated according a passive house concept.

Low energy (LEB) and passive buildings (PB) are becoming standard for new constructions in EU countries. They aren't experiments anymore, but absolutely ordinary mass production of sophisticated residential buildings. Only in Germany, Austria and Switzerland there are already thousands of buildings that meet the passive standard and their number doubles every year. The cost of passive buildings is only 5-7 % higher than those of conventional ones, and yet, their consumption of energy and heating is up to 90 % lower! Part 4 about circulation system air heating system with a controlled proportion of ventilation air and heat recovery, and some design principles for design and ventilation NED EPD.

The article describes some of the results of the research project R&D SP3g522107 – Full renovation of panel buildings in the low energy standard, which was carried out by EkoWATT with the support of the Ministry of the Environment in the years 2007-2010. One of the main instruments described is the parametric model, which allows the evaluation of a large sample of virtually generated building probabilistic methods, a case study of a renovation of a panel building to a passive standard using a grant with a 8 year investment return and also, an internet application that easily allows to add a panel building to a computer model and test the effects of the saving measures.