Passive Houses

• Almost unknown concept in North America, but gaining popularity in Europe, passive houses use only 10% of the energy of a traditional house (that is 90% less!).
• Far more stringent than Energy Star and other U.S. standards, the Passivhaus Standard requires reducing the operational energy load by 90% when compared to existing buildings.
  (e-co Lab)
• Passive houses are extremely energy efficient houses which don't even need an extensive heating (or cooling) system like central heating boiler or geothermal heating. All they need for the Winter is a small back-up heating element recommended to be max 1kW. Heating requirements should be no more than 10-20 kWatt/sq meter per year (depending on the country, budget and climate, less or equal to 15 kW/sq m for the US. More information here at PassivHaus
• Definition: there is no clear definition, it's rather a concept of super-insulated, air-tight houses (where necessary) which use only passive elements for heating (inhabitants, appliances, lighting, some solar) in conjunction with an air-heatexchange system to provide fresh air and recycle the heat of outgoing air.
• This principle can be applied to both new buildings and retrofits (retrofit apartment building case-study). (Older buildings do require a thorough renovation.)
• Economic study and other advantages PassivHaus
• Critical points: super-insulation, no heat bridges, low-energy triple pane windows, some passive solar, air-to-air heat exchanger, low extra cost compared to traditional building. Final testing of the house's energy performance should be done with 'blowerdoor' and thermal infrared camera.
  

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