What is Passive House?
Passive House buildings use passive solar energy, good insulation, air tightness, and heat recovery ventilation for energy reduction. Abundant natural light and continuous fresh air ventilation also makes for a very healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Passive House is so good in fact, a 1000 watt hair dryer could provide enough heat for a typical home.
Commercial and Residential
The name Passive House implies this method is for residences, but in reality it is equally well applied to larger commercial buildings. Thousands of schools, civic buildings and office buildings have been built in Europe since 1990 when the Passive House method was born. Passive House offers a certification system that assures high quality and good performance for Commercial and Residential buildings equally.
Thermal Envelope
A key component of the superior comfort and reduced energy use provided by a Passive House is the high quality thermal envelope. By thermal envelope we mean the continuous insulating skin that thermally separates inside from outside. Passive House buildings are specially designed to have no drafts or cold spots, so that in winter you can keep the thermostat at a comfortable level and still save on energy bills.
Breathe Easy:
Indoor Air Quality & Comfort
One of the biggest advantages of Passive House buildings is superior air quality and comfort. For people who are sensitive to mold and air-borne chemicals, a Passive House building can make a big difference in their quality of life. There are almost no air leaks or cold spots for mold to form, and fresh air from outside is continuously brought in the building at the same time stale air is sent out.
Thermal Bridging
Most buildings have significant energy leakage through the building envelope because of thermal bridges. Standard construction details are designed to be easy to build, not easy to insulate. The careful detailing used in Passive House buildings eliminates thermal bridges that pass heat between inside and outside. This not only improves comfort, but reduces energy use for the lifetime of the building.
About Windows
Windows typically lose more heat than any other building component. Passive House windows have specially designed frames and air seals to reduce thermal losses. The glass is typically triple-pane, which keeps the interior surface of the glass at room temperature, eliminating drafts. With proper orientation and shading, windows that meet the thermal performance requirements can actually gain more energy than they lose over the year.
Sample building
Total Square Footage:
10,000 SF
Average Annual Energy Use/Cost:
250,000 kw/hr/yr
$ 21,250 annually
Passive House Average Use/Cost:
111,400 kw/hr/yr
$ 9,470 annually
Savings:
$ 11,780 annually
Photo by Marquise Kamanke
Want to learn more?
HKP launched its Passive House Studio in 2014 as a new service for all projects looking to incorporate the highest levels of energy efficiency, indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Led by Julie Blazek, a Certified Passive House Consultant, HKP’s Passive House Studio is interested in working with owners and developers to save operational costs, provide healthy, comfortable space, reduce impacts to the environment, and differentiate their project from those in the marketplace.