Passivhäusern

Passivhäuser, or passive houses, are a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in buildings, significantly reducing a building's energy consumption for heating and cooling. The core principle is to minimize heat loss and maximize heat gain through a combination of highly insulated building envelopes, airtight construction, high-performance windows, and passive solar design. This approach aims to achieve a comfortable indoor climate with minimal or no active heating or cooling systems.

The design of a Passivhaus emphasizes a super-insulated exterior shell, including walls, roof, and floor, to prevent heat transfer. Triple-glazed windows with insulated frames are a key component, further minimizing heat loss. Airtightness is crucial; the building envelope is sealed to prevent uncontrolled air leakage, which can account for significant energy loss. To ensure good indoor air quality in an airtight building, a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery is employed. This system continuously supplies fresh air while pre-heating incoming air with the heat from outgoing stale air.

Passive solar design principles are integrated, such as orienting the building to maximize solar heat gain during winter months and using shading to prevent overheating in summer. The heat generated by occupants and appliances also contributes to maintaining a comfortable temperature. The result is a building that is exceptionally comfortable, has very low energy bills, and offers superior indoor air quality. The Passivhaus standard is recognized internationally and has been implemented in various building types, including residential homes, offices, and schools.