The Passivhaus or passive house standard is a construction standard developed in Germany that seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and achieve very low energy consumption constructions. Thus, it seeks not only comfort and savings in energy consumption, but to meet the demands of a consumer increasingly aware of the impact of buildings on the environment. Read on to find out what a passive house is and how it can make your life more comfortable.
What is a passive house?
A passive house is much more than a standard, it is a comprehensive planning that encompasses all aspects of building a home. We tell you the characteristics of a passive house and its benefits.
Passivhaus Characteristics
Any passive house, to meet Passivhaus requirements, must have certain characteristics, such as:
- Insulation levels adapted to the climate. Passive houses are always designed to include exceptional thermal insulation, of course adapted to the climate of the area where the house is located. Walls, roof and floor are manufactured with components that prevent the loss of heat or cold and maintain a constant interior temperature. This not only provides a more comfortable house, but also represents a significant energy saving in the long term.
- Airtight envelope. The envelope is the layer that separates the inside of the building from the outside, what we normally know as exterior walls, roof and floor. Through the envelope heat and cold is also lost from inside the house, and therefore having an envelope as airtight as possible and with low conductivity is essential to achieve a passive house. Thus, a Passivhaus doubles or triples the thermal resistance of the usual standards. In addition, by installing an airtight envelope we also achieve acoustic insulation of the house and greater durability and strength of the construction.
- Design without thermal bridges. Thermal bridges are elements through which cold or heat can escape from the house, reducing its energy efficiency and making us spend more on air conditioning. Therefore, achieving the complete elimination of thermal bridges is one of the fundamental principles of a passive house. A goal that involves reducing energy consumption and also preventing problems related to condensation, such as the proliferation of fungi harmful to health.
- High-quality insulated windows and doors. It is precisely in doors and windows where thermal bridges usually occur. Therefore, to achieve a passive house it is essential to install airtight windows and doors, properly installed. The orientation is also important, because if the windows are placed in the right location, sunlight can be used to reduce the consumption of artificial lighting and to heat the house in winter.
- Continuous ventilation with heat recovery. As passive houses are airtight, a ventilation system is needed to bring in fresh air and expel odors, CO2, humidity and so on. To achieve this without losing thermal comfort, ventilation systems are installed with a heat recovery fan that removes stale air continuously, and the same for the cold in the warmer months.
Benefits of a passive house
- Energy savings. Thanks to the ventilation systems, breakage of thermal bridges and others, the energy efficiency that is achieved achieves that, in the long term, you save significantly on the electricity bill. The initial outlay may be high, but it pays off over time.
- Comfort. Comfort is, together with sustainability, the ultimate goal of the Passivhaus standard. Maintaining a stable, pleasant and uniform temperature throughout the house, without variations from one room to another, and with little difference between the temperature of windows, doors and other areas of thermal bridges and the rest of the space makes it possible to achieve a high degree of comfort when living in a passive house. In addition, constant ventilation eliminates odors and humidity and the insulation keeps the interior quiet.
- Reducing dependence on the electricity grid. Maintaining thermal comfort through Passivhaus means less reliance on grid power and non-renewable energy sources such as gas and oil. Thus, a passive house uses clean on-site energy sources, such as solar panels, geothermal energy, wind turbines, aerothermal energy and others.
- Durability and construction quality. To meet the Passivhaus Institut’s passive house certification requirements, homes must be built to the best and most advanced construction standards. This results in durable and resistant homes, which ensure you a good place to live for a long time. Materials, design, installations, equipment… everything is considered in detail to achieve the highest quality in the building and avoid having to deal with repairs or maintenance very often. This also means that the house gains market value in the long term.
As you can see, passive houses represent the future of sustainable and efficient housing. As technology advances and people’s environmental awareness increases, more and more passive houses are likely to become available, moving towards a greener and more equitable future.
