Passive House (Passivhaus) represents today’s highest energy standard for building performance with the promise of reducing the operational energy consumption of buildings by up to 75% in California, while providing superior comfort and extreme indoor air quality – all with minimal additional upfront investment. When coupled with renewable energy systems, such as solar PV, Passive House puts zero net energy within easy reach. Passive House is a proven standard, already applied to more than 100,000 buildings in all climate zones and is growing exponentially.
Benefits of Passive House:
Passive House reliably delivers approximately a 90% reduction in heating and cooling demand and up to a 75% reduction in overall operational energy use when compared to conventional construction. The same protocols that deliver the extreme energy efficiency provide a more comfortable and healthier indoor environment — also addressing the climate crisis by dramatically reducing the operational carbon.
The benefits fall into five categories:
Comfort – Constant desired temperature in all rooms, upstairs and down – no drafts, quiet, peace of mind, and tranquility;
Healthy Indoor Air Quality – Continuous fresh and filtered air with up to a 95% reduction of airborne allergens and pollutants, including smoke and ash from wildfires;
Energy Efficiency – The 90% and 75% reductions, mentioned above can dramatically lower bills and/or reduce the renewables required to reach zero net energy;
Resilience – A Passive House building maintains the desired temperature much longer if power is lost – and doubles the impact of battery storage;
Environmental Responsibility – Reducing energy demand from the built; environment is a major lever in reducing carbon and addressing the climate crisis.
The Five Principles of Passive House
Passive House performance is primarily achieved by optimizing the building envelope and incorporating the right, and right-sized, mechanical systems. Working together, they deliver the ideal combination of efficiency, comfort, health and resilience that will last for generations.
Optimizing the building envelope
1. Air tightness:
2. Climate Specific Insulation
3. Thermal Bridge Free Design
4. High Performance Windows and Doors
5. Continuous Ventilation with Heat Recovery
Though not considered a Passive House Principle, depending on the climate, a small heating and/or cooling mechanical system may also be employed.