Microsoft have had the facility to add custom buttons on a ribbon (toolbar) in Excel for some time. Tim Martel and the AECB have teamed up to create one for PHPP which speeds up common tasks and extends what PHPP can do. No special PHPP is needed. All tools are compatible with earlier versions of PHPP: 8.5, 9.1, 9.3, 9.6 and key parts of it are already ready for v10 due to be released soon.

Embodied CO2

The PHPP already has quantities of 75% of the materials of the building, this button makes it relatively straightforward to obtain lifetime CO2 using an extensive list of hundreds of EPDs. The calculation is for the full lifetime Embodied CO2 suitable for design stage estimates of RIBA 2030 challenge (though an official RICS calculation requires more). Read more 

Daylight Factor

This exports window information to a daylight factor spreadsheet by Mark Siddall of LEAP. It helps you plan window sizes which give enough daylight without over-provision. Good windows have 5x the heat loss of a good wall so it is important not to over size them.

Window Tool

  • saves you a lot of time calculating the d-reveal
  • part of the “Build PHPP” set of buttons  (and there is also a “D-reveal” tool just for the d-reveal if you have entered the window tab entries but not the shading, see the “Build PHPP Buttons” section below)
  • enters many rows of data from the style you have chosen: dimensions, ‘1’s and ‘0’s and name, quantity, d-reveal and d-over
  • simple formulas or option for advanced formulas that allows you to change the width of the whole window, width of the pane, frame selection frame dimensions without having to update the d-reveal
  • can also enter the blue highlighted panes as multiples, you can have any number of identical panes in a row. Still allows you to have multiples of the entire window

PAS 2035 Improvement Option Evaluation

  • calculates simple payback and carbon cost effectiveness for each measure individually and packages
  • uses typical minimum and maximum costs, you can also add your own costs
  • menus to help you easily select materials and entries
  • works out the U-values you need if you want to specify a target U value

Carbon cost effectiveness is the cost in £/tonne for a measure or package including the capital cost and the savings over the life of that measure
Read more

Build PHPP Buttons

  • easier selection of climate region, shows what counties are in what region
  • you only need to know the county that the building is in.
  • library of typical constructions to start from (R-values for the US version)
  • build your own library of constructions
  • enters lambda value from a library of common lambda values (R-values/inch for the US version)
  • lambda 90/90 vales & link to BBA certificates, have your own custom lists
  • Orientation on Areas tab gives a simple way to work out bearings of each wall, draws outline of building as a crosscheck (if you have entered wall lengths)
  • Absorptivity works on the Areas tab allows quick entry of the wall shading, Absorptivity and Emissivity, gives absorptivity and emissivity of a range of common materials
  • Components button holds a large library of window glazing and frames, and allows you to easily copy these into your PHPP
  • You can also select standard items within your PHPP as well: glazing, frames and installation Psi
  • Check PHPP takes you through a set list of locations in your PHPP, you can add to and amend this list.
  • enters different window styles quickly, in mm or m, calculates the d-reveal, and enters the other info
  • advanced formulas option can accommodate changes in window or pane dimensions when calculating the d-reveal
  • alternative to the window tool, calculates the d reveal for windows you have entered
  • advanced option can accommodate changes in window or pane dimensions
CheckPHPP
  • runs through a standard check for PHPP and gives you a list of what is OK and what needs attention

More Buttons

  • calculates retrofit costs and savings using Net Present Value (see also PAS2035 Improvement Option Evaluation)
  • links to rates of master PHribbon list, allowing you to update results automatically if you change the rates in the master list
  • Variants version calculates this for many options at a time, Step by Step is similar for incremental retrofits         Read more
Summarise
PHPPs
  • helps you make a list of results for recent PHPPs just by selecting the file name
  • you can select a whole series of file names at once in a block
  • useful to summarise a large development where you have many individual PHPPs for different blocks
Certifier
Export
  • creates the summary certifiers need to send to the Passivhaus Institute
Unprotect/
Protect
Sheets
  • ‘Unprotect sheet’ unprotects the current sheet if you want to add notes
  • ‘Protect sheets’ protects all the sheets in the PHPP, while still allowing you to use the “+” to unhide rows or columns (from version 3.12 onwards)
Thermal Bridges
  • Thermal bridge library for around 70 of the most common domestic thermal bridges

updates that are pencilled in for the future are:

  • Renewable Heat Incentive has been extended to 2022, add to PAS2035 Improvement Option Evaluation
  • Add Smart Energy Guarantee to PAS2035 Improvement Option Evaluation
  • Embodied CO2 in PAS2035 Improvement Option Evaluation to include AECB economic appraisal methods
  • German Ökobaudat Embodied CO2 data entries to be added to PHribbon.
Purchase PHribbon