Finally! Passive House Explained in 8 Steps

24 Feb Finally! Passive House Explained in 8 Steps

Background and Benefits of a Passive House –

Passivhaus buildings consume 90% less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings.

The average temperature inside a home is more constant than a conventional home.

The indoor temperature range will generally around 20-25 degrees year round. Often on hot 40 degree days outside, temperatures inside without any cooling, peak at 27 degrees from our clients.

Passive House (or Passivhaus) is a design standard for energy-efficient buildings that was developed in Germany in the 1990s.

Passive House in eight steps:

1. The goal of a Passive House is to minimise the building’s energy consumption with a high performing design and the way it’s built.
2. A key feature of a Passive House is its airtight envelope. Which means little or no heat loss through leaks and drafts (leaky windows, doors or services that enter the building).
3. The building’s walls, roof, and floor are heavily insulated to reduce heat going in (in summer) or out (in winter).
4. Windows and doors are designed to minimise heat loss while allowing natural light and ventilation. Through features such as double glazing, or window coverings.
5. Passive Houses use mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery (HRV) to maintain a comfy indoor temperature and humidity while minimising energy use and allow fresh clean air inside.
6. Other energy-efficient features of Passive Houses include high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, energy-efficient lighting, and low-energy appliances.
7. To achieve Passive House certification, a building must meet strict performance standards for energy consumption, air leakage, and thermal comfort.
8. The energy savings over the life of the building can make it a far more cost-effective choice in just 5-10 years – making up for the higher initial cost of building compared to a conventional building