Discover the Benefits of Passive House

A Passive House is a highly energy-efficient building that is designed to minimize energy consumption and promote sustainable living. By using a combination of advanced technologies and construction methods, a Passive House offers numerous advantages over conventional buildings, including lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, increased comfort, enhanced durability, and a healthier living environment. In this article, we'll explore these advantages in more detail and highlight the key features of a Passive House.

Elite Energy Efficiency = Lower Energy Bills

One of the most notable advantages of a Passive House is the significant reduction in energy consumption, leading to lower energy bills. A Passive House is designed to be airtight, with a well-sealed building envelope that helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the building. The use of heat recovery systems, high-quality thermal insulation, and energy-efficient windows and doors also helps to minimize energy loss, ensuring that your energy bills remain low even in extreme weather conditions.

How much money can be saved through a passive house design?

The core principles of a passive house include advanced insulation, air tight construction, and superior ventilation. By applying these measures, a passive house can save up to 70-90% on annual energy bills compared to a home with conventional construction. This means a passive house will provide much greater savings than other energy efficiency methods, such as solar panels. Additionally, a passive house can help you qualify for government grants and subsidies, saving you even more money.

In New South Wales, one of the most successful examples of the cost-saving benefits of a Passive House is the Ecovillage at Currumbin. The community consists of a number of eco-friendly homes built using Passive House principles. The homes are designed to be highly energy-efficient and feature a variety of energy-saving features such as increased wall and ceiling insulation, triple-glazed windows, and energy recovery ventilation systems. Residents at the Ecovillage have reported savings of up to $200 per month on their energy bills, thanks to the energy-saving features of their homes.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

In addition to lower energy bills, a Passive House is designed to promote good indoor air quality by reducing the amount of pollutants that can enter the building. With its airtight construction and high-quality ventilation systems, a Passive House helps to maintain a clean, healthy indoor environment, free from harmful pollutants and allergens.

Living in a home with good air quality can have a number of benefits. Not only does it impact your physical wellbeing, improving the quality of the air you breathe and reducing the risk of respiratory problems, but it can also have a positive effect on your mental health. Good air quality can make your home feel more inviting and comfortable, allowing you to relax and enjoy the space. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a better night's sleep and a more positive outlook.

Increased Comfort

A Passive House is designed to be highly comfortable, with consistent indoor temperatures, even in extreme weather conditions. The use of high-quality thermal insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, and a well-sealed building envelope helps to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, while reducing energy loss and minimizing the need for costly heating and cooling systems.

An example of a successful Passive House in Brisbane is the Cygnet Street Passive House in the suburb of Wilston. This project was designed to achieve a low-energy, comfortable and resilient home that would stand the test of time. The residence features a highly insulated and airtight building envelope, with triple-glazed windows, a heat-recovery ventilation system, and solar photovoltaic panels for energy efficiency. The result is increased comfort, improved indoor air quality, and a reduced carbon footprint. The homeowner has reported a noticeable difference in the indoor temperature since switching to the Passive House design, with the home no longer being subject to extreme temperature fluctuations.

Enhanced Durability

A Passive House is built to last, with high-quality materials and construction methods that result in a durable, long-lasting building. The use of energy-saving technologies and durable materials helps to reduce the need for costly repairs and maintenance, ensuring that your Passive House will last for many years to come.

In addition to enhanced durability over conventional buildings, a Passive House offers additional protection against natural disasters. Its airtight construction and quality materials help to make it more resilient in the face of floods, fires, and other extreme weather events. The use of fire-resistant materials and robust building components can help to protect your building in a hurricane, while the use of high-performance insulation helps to prevent heat and cold loss during flooding. Additionally, the use of water-resistant materials and effective drainage systems can help to reduce the risk of water damage in the event of a flood.

Better for the Environment

A Passive House is a greener, more sustainable building that has a lower carbon footprint than a conventional building. By reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, a Passive House helps to protect the environment and promote sustainable living. Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, helps to minimize the building's carbon footprint even further.

One example of a Passive House in Sydney is the Potts Point Residence. This three-storey house was designed and built to comply with the Passive House Standard, reducing its carbon footprint significantly. The residence was built with high-performance windows and doors, a well-sealed building envelope and high-quality thermal insulation, allowing it to achieve an impressive airtightness of 1.0 air change per hour (ACH) at 50 Pa. In addition, the house was fitted with a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system, allowing it to achieve a high level of energy efficiency and indoor air quality. In addition, the house was fitted with solar panels, further reducing its carbon footprint. As a result, the residence was able to achieve a 75% reduction in energy use compared to a conventional house.

Increased Property Value

The benefits of a Passive House extend beyond just energy savings and improved indoor air quality. The increased property value that comes with owning a Passive House makes it a smart investment for those looking to increase their property value and build a more sustainable future.

A classic example of a Passive House that has increased its property value in Sydney is a two-bedroom apartment in Surry Hills. Before undergoing energy retrofitting, the apartment was valued at $800,000. After being upgraded to a Passive House, the property was revalued at $1.1 million – an increase of 37.5%. This demonstrates the potential of a Passive House to significantly increase the value of a property.

Healthier Living Environment

With its improved indoor air quality, comfortable indoor temperature, and durable construction, a Passive House provides a healthier living environment for its occupants. By reducing the amount of pollutants that enter the building and maintaining a consistent indoor temperature, a Passive House promotes good health and well-being.

Mould growth is a serious health hazard, especially in New South Whales and Queensland. Thankfully, Passive Houses are designed to prevent mould build-up by controlling humidity and air circulation. By using an airtight building envelope, Passive Houses maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the risk of mould growth. Additionally, the MVHR system allows for fresh air to be circulated throughout the building, preventing stagnant air and reducing the risk of mould growth. In addition, the Passive House design ensures proper ventilation of moisture-prone areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, further reducing the risk of mould growth.

Peace and Quiet

In addition to its other benefits, a Passive House is designed to reduce noise pollution, with sound-proofing materials and construction methods that help to minimize external noise and create a peaceful, quiet living space.

One example of a Passive House in Brisbane that has experienced reduced noise levels is the retrofitted project in Milton. The project involved upgrading an old heritage-listed building to a Passive House standard. The building was fitted with soundproof walls and insulated windows to reduce external noise and create a peaceful and quiet living environment. Residents reported that the soundproofing had created a noticeable difference in the sound profile of their home, with exterior noise significantly reduced, creating a much more peaceful living environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a Passive House has a range of benefits, from increased energy efficiency and reduced energy bills, to improved property values and healthier living environments. With its soundproofing materials and construction methods, a Passive House also provides peace and quiet, creating a comfortable and peaceful living space. All in all, Passive House design is a great way to create a more energy efficient, healthy, and comfortable living space.