What Is Passive House (Passivhaus)?

Passive House – otherwise known as Passivhaus – is a voluntary energy standard that provides a high level of occupant comfort whilst using minimal energy for heating and cooling. They are built with meticulous attention to detail, through a rigorous design and construction process, according to five main principles developed by the International Passivhaus Institute in Germany. These five principles are:

• accurate design modelling using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)
• very high levels of insulation
• extremely high performance windows with insulated frames
• airtight building fabric
• ‘thermal bridge free’ construction
• a mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery (MVHR)

I am a Certified Passive House Designer. If you’d like to build a high performance home, please contact me for an obligation free consultation.