What is a passive home?

A passive home, also known as a Passive House, is a type of building that is designed to be highly energy-efficient and comfortable to live in. It is a building standard that originated in Germany in the 1990s and has since spread to other parts of the world.

The key principle of a passive home is to minimize energy consumption and maximize energy efficiency by using a variety of techniques and technologies, such as:

Super insulation: The walls, roof, and floor of a passive home are insulated to a much higher degree than conventional buildings, which helps to minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.

Airtightness: A passive home is designed to be highly airtight, with minimal air leaks. This helps to prevent heat loss and maintain a constant indoor temperature.

Ventilation: A passive home has a mechanical ventilation system that constantly circulates fresh air while recovering the heat from the outgoing stale air. This helps to maintain good indoor air quality and prevent mold and other air-quality issues.

Passive solar design: The building is designed to maximize the use of sunlight for heating and lighting, with large south-facing windows and shading devices to minimize heat gain in summer.

Energy-efficient appliances and lighting: Passive homes use energy-efficient appliances and lighting, which reduces the overall energy demand of the building.

The result of these techniques is a building that is highly energy-efficient, with minimal heating and cooling requirements.

A passive home can typically be heated with just the energy equivalent of a few hairdryers, which makes it a very sustainable and cost-effective way to live.