Passive House stands for energy efficiency, costeffectiveness and a high level of comfort.
The Passive House Standard is embodied by five basic principles:
1. An optimal level of thermal insulation
This provides for excellent thermal protection of the building envelope and is essential to achieve high
levels of energy efficiency, as most of the heat in conventionalbuildings is lost through the exterior walls,
roof and floor.
This principle is reversed in the summer and in warmer climatic zones: alongside external shading elements and energy efficient household appliances, thermal insulation ensures that heat remains outside, keeping the inside pleasantly cool.
2. Thermally insulated window frames with high quality glazing
Such windows, typically with triple-glazing, “trap” the sun’s heat during the cold winter months.
South-facing windows in particular direct more solar energy into the house than the heat they release towards the outside. Simultaneously, in order to avoid the risk of overheating in summer, appropriate elements are used for adequate shading.
3. Thermal bridge free construction
Heat will travel from a heated space towards the cooler outside, following the path of least resistance.
Thermal bridges are weak points in a structure that allow more energy to pass through than might be expected. Avoiding thermal bridges in building design is thus a great way to avoid unnecessary heat loss.
Careful planning, especially for connections between building components, intermediate ceilings, and foundations, is essential.
4. An airtight building envelope
An airtight envelope that encloses the whole interior space prevents energy loss, moisture-related structural damage, and draughts. To achieve this, Passive Houses are designed with an uninterrupted and continuous airtight layer; special attention must be paid to junctions and connection details.
5. Ventilation with heat recovery
Heat recovery ventilation ensures a plentiful and consistent supply of fresh, clean, dust and pollen free air while reducing energy losses. Up to 90% of the heat from the extracted air can be recovered via heat exchange. These systems are usually very quiet and easy to operate.