Passive House
In the ongoing battle against climate change, energy efficiency has become a crucial tool for reducing carbon emissions. The Passive House concept stands out as innovative and sustainable among the strategies to enhance efficiency. But what exactly is a Passive House, and just how efficient is it?
At its core, a Passive House is designed to minimise energy consumption by employing a combination of rigorous insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows, and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Unlike conventional buildings relying heavily on active heating and cooling systems, Passive Houses leverage passive strategies to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round. This approach reduces energy consumption, lowers utility bills, and lessens environmental impact.
The primary principle behind Passive House design is creating a thermal envelope that minimises heat loss and gain. This is achieved through superior insulation, typically exceeding standard building requirements. By effectively trapping heat inside during colder months and preventing excess heat from entering during warmer periods, Passive Houses significantly reduce the need for traditional heating and cooling systems. Consequently, occupants enjoy consistent indoor comfort without relying heavily on energy-intensive equipment.
Passive House construction emphasises airtightness to prevent unwanted drafts and heat leakage. This meticulous sealing of the building envelope enhances comfort and ensures that the energy invested in heating or cooling the indoor space remains within the home’s confines. With high-performance windows featuring multiple panes and low-emissivity coatings, Passive Houses effectively minimise thermal bridging and heat transfer, optimising energy efficiency.
Central to the Passive House concept is the mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, which continuously exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering heat from the outgoing air stream. This process helps maintain high indoor air quality while minimising ventilation-related energy losses. By recovering heat that would otherwise be wasted, Passive Houses achieve even greater energy efficiency, contributing to their status as leaders in sustainable building practices.
Comfortable indoor temperatures all year round
But compared to conventional homes?
Numerous studies and real-world examples demonstrate their remarkable performance. Research indicates that Passive Houses can achieve energy savings of up to 90% compared to standard buildings, drastically reducing reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Additionally, the long-term operational savings associated with lower energy bills often offset the initial investment in Passive House construction, making it a financially prudent choice for homeowners.
A study1 stated that a code-standard house could consume over 100kW/hr/m2/annum for heating, but a Passive House would consume less than 15kW/hr/m2/annum, and that the upfront costs would be absorbed over the building’s lifetime.
We produce models of your passive house that tell us what the heating demand will be, but of course, that can all change depending on various factors: how many people are living in it, are you carpeting or tiling, how many windows are there, where in the country it is located, etc.
While having a goal of building an energy-efficient home is admirable, it’s not the only consideration. With a passive house, you also get a comfortable home that looks after the planet. When investing in a passive house, you can expect your investment to be 5-13% higher than that of a conventional home.
Energy efficiency is about reducing heating and cooling costs; passive housing is more about qualified construction methods, and the bi-product is energy efficiency. It’s a beautiful synergy between what people need: warmth and comfort, healthy indoor air quality, and low energy bills.
Passive Houses represent a paradigm shift in residential construction, offering energy efficiency, comfort, and environmental sustainability. By prioritising passive design strategies and leveraging advanced building technologies, Passive Houses demonstrate that it is possible to create homes that not only tread lightly on the planet but also provide lasting benefits to occupants and communities alike. As the world grapples with the urgent need to mitigate climate change, Passive House principles serve as a pathway towards a more sustainable future.
Talk to us about starting your journey with a Passive House, you can email us or phone us on 09 281 9398.
