Passive House

Passive house is a standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint.[1] It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling.[2][3][4][5][6]

The design is not an attachment or supplement to architectural design, but a design process that integrates with architectural design.[8] Although it is generally applied to new buildings, it has also been used for refurbishments.[9]
The passivhaus standard requires that the building fulfills the following requirements:[10][11]
 
Use up to 15 kWh/m2 (4,755 BTU/sq ft; 5.017 MJ/sq ft) of floor area per year for heating and cooling as calculated by the Passivhaus Planning Package, or a peak heat load of 10 W/m2 (1.2 hp/1000 sq ft) of floor area, based on local climate data.
Use up to 60 kWh/m2 (19,020 BTU/sq ft; 20.07 MJ/sq ft) of floor area per year primary energy (for heating, hot water and electricity).
Leak air up to 0.6 times the house volume per hour (n50 ≤ 0.6 / hour) at 50 Pa (0.0073 psi) as tested by a blower door; or up to 0.05 cubic feet per minute (1.4 L/min) per square foot of the surface area of the enclosure.
In passivhaus buildings, the cost savings from dispensing with the conventional heating system can be used to fund the upgrade of the building envelope and the heat recovery ventilation system. With careful design and increasing competition in the supply of the specifically designed passivhaus building products, in Germany it is currently possible to construct buildings for the same cost as those built to normal German building standards, as was done with the passivhaus apartments at Vauban, Freiburg.[12] On average passive houses are reported to be more expensive upfront than conventional buildings – 5% to 8% in Germany,[13][14] 8% to 10% in UK[15] and 5% to 10% in USA.[16][17][18][19]
 
Evaluations have indicated that while it is technically possible, the costs of meeting the passivhaus standard increase significantly when building in Northern Europe above 60° latitude.[20][21] European cities at approximately 60° include Helsinki in Finland and Bergen in Norway. London is at 51°; Moscow is at 55°.
 
 
References:
 1- Zeller, Tom Jr. (September 26, 2010). “Beyond Fossil Fuels: Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?”. The New York Times. p. BU1.
2- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Gröndahl, Mika; Gates, Guilbert (September 25, 2010). “The Secrets of a Passive House”. The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
3- ^ “Definition of Passive House”. PassivHaustagung.de. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012.
4- ^ Thomson, Emily. “The homes on the rise in Norfolk, but what is a Passivhaus?”. Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
5- ^ “Passivhäuser halten Sommerhitze gut stand”. EnBauSa News: Energetisch Bauen und Sanieren (in German). Retrieved 2018-08-07.
6- ^ “Chicago’s Most Energy Efficient Home Resides In Hyde Park”. CBS Local Chicago. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
7- ^ “Minergie-Standard”. Minergie.ch (in French). Archived from the original on November 18, 2007.
8- ^ Ji, Yan; Plainiotis, Stellios (2006). Design for Sustainability. Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press. ISBN 978-7-112-08390-9.
9- ^ Jump up to: a b c Rosenthal, Elisabeth (December 26, 2008). 10- “Houses With No Furnace but Plenty of Heat”. The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
 11- “Passive House requirements”. Passivhaus Institut. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
12- ^ “Concepts and market acceptance of a cold climate Passive House” (PDF). passivhusnorden.no. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
13- Delleske, Andreas. “What is a Passive house?”. Passivhaus-vauban.de. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
14- ^ “The Passive House – sustainable, affordable, comfortable, versatile”. International Passive House Association. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
15- ^ Hill, Steven (2010). Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age. University of California Press. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-52024-857-1.
16- ^ Siegle, Lucy (December 8, 2013). “How can I live in a passive house?”. The Guardian. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
17- ^ Loviglio, Joann (June 12, 2013). “Highly efficient ‘passive homes’ gain ground in US”. Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
18- ^ Adams, Duncan (February 9, 2014). “Energized about Passive House construction”. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
19- ^ “The buzz in energy efficiency: ‘Passive house’ debuts in Austin”. KXAN. February 19, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
20- ^ “Cellar Ridge’s 50/10 Homes Boast 50% Greater Efficiency for 10% More Money than Similar Homes”. inhabitat.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
 “Passive Houses in High Latitudes” (PDF). UCD Energy Research Group, University College Dublin. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
21- ^ “Passive Houses in cold Norwegian climate” (PDF). UCD Energy Research Group, University College Dublin. Retrieved December 11, 2017.

Passive houses are designed to be self-sustainable, comfortable, and long-lasting. They use a variety of materials that help reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. Here are some key materials used in passive house construction:

  1. Bio-based spray foam insulation: This type of insulation is made from natural materials such as soybeans and castor oil. It is free of harmful chemicals and provides excellent insulation.
  2. Closed panel timber frames for doors and windows: These frames are made from sustainably harvested timber and are designed to be airtight and energy-efficient.
  3. Engineered and recycled lumber: Engineered lumber is made from wood fibers and other materials, and is designed to be stronger and more durable than traditional lumber. Recycled lumber is made from reclaimed wood and is an eco-friendly alternative to new lumber.
  4. Environmentally-friendly paint types with low VOC: These paints are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to human health and the environment.
  5. Fluorescent light bulbs: These bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last longer.
  6. Formaldehyde-free cabinets: These cabinets are made from materials that are free of formaldehyde, a harmful chemical that can cause health problems.
  7. Insulated concrete forms for foundations: These forms are made from foam insulation and are designed to be energy-efficient and durable.
  1. On-demand, tankless water heater: These heaters provide hot water on demand, which reduces energy consumption and eliminates the need for a storage tank.
  2. Insulated concrete forms for foundations: These forms are made from foam insulation and are designed to be energy-efficient and durable.
  3. Environmentally-friendly flooring: Sustainable flooring options include bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood. These materials are eco-friendly and add warmth and texture to a space.
  4. Low-flow plumbing fixtures: These fixtures reduce water consumption and help conserve water.
  5. Green roofs: Green roofs are covered with vegetation and provide insulation, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve air quality.
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