What is passive house design and why it is essential for sustainable living?
Energy efficiency and sustainability are given top priority in the certified passive house design. The objective of passive house design is to increase the quality of construction to a point which lowers a homes energy consumption and therefore reduces its ecological impact. This is achieved through the application of passive solar architecture principles, elimination of thermal bridges, airtightness, controlled air and continuous effective insulation. We'll examine the multiple advantages of a certified passive house design in this post, including energy savings, environmental advantages, and affordability.
What is a Certified Passive House?
A certified passive house is a building concept that satisfies stringent energy efficiency and construction concepts. It is a proven and tested standard that applies to all climate zones around the world. A certified passive house reduces the need for active heating and cooling systems which are the primary energy consumers in a home. The Passive House Standard reduces active heating or cooling energy consumption by up to 90%. In addition to such amazing energy savings, Passive Homes are also ultra comfortable, extremely healthy and require less maintenance. This is all due to the stringent standards required for certification as a Passive House and the clever technology in the materials and systems used.
The Benefits of a Certified Passive House Design
Achieving a certified passive house design for your home has a number of advantages. First of all, certified passive house designs drastically cut down on energy use (up to 90% less), leading to cheaper energy costs and a smaller environmental impact. This is due to the fact that certified passive house designs rely less on active heating and cooling systems and instead are super insulated, have no thermal bridges and have a clever air filtration exchange system that helps maintain temperature and air quality.
The creation of a cosy and healthy living space is another advantage of a certified passive house design. By having an airtight home the internal environment and air quality in a Certified Passive House is monitored, filtered and regulated to ensure you have cleaner air and a healthier living environment.
The materials used to achieve Certified Passive House also play a large part in how healthy passive homes are. The walls of a Passive House ‘breathe’ which means that even in extremely humid climates there is no mould growth within walls or surfaces. Mould is a big issue in homes which is eliminated in certified passive homes.
Certified Passivhaus in Australian Climate
Certified Passive House designs are firewise. This is because of the stringent standards required for certification which includes the use of non-combustible materials and fire resistant doors, windows, and ventilation systems. Fire resistance is a major element of Passive House design and it is a key factor in ensuring the safety of your home and family. Passive houses are designed with fire safety in mind and the extra cost associated with these materials and systems can provide peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are safe.
Finally, Certified Passive House designs are fortified against floods due to the demanding qualifications that must be met in order to receive the certification. These include a watertight structure, materials and systems that use water-resistant components, sealing systems and thermal bridges, and the capability to be built up above the ground in places that are predisposed to flooding. This allows for water to flow underneath the house and protects it from damage. As a result, the Passive House remains dry and secure in times of flooding and severe weather.
Ultimately passive homes are resilient and durable, providing extra protection from fire and floods in Australia's often unpredictable weather. The materials used in these designs also prevent mould growth commonly linked to Australian climate, making them a great choice for those looking for a cosy and safe home.
How a Certified Passive House Design Works
Utilising the following concepts, a certified passive house design functions as follows:
Quality Windows, correct shading, and continuous insulation are all used in passive solar design to help even out a home's temperature and comfort level. Passive solar architecture lowers the need for artificial heating and cooling systems by maximising the utilisation of natural light and radiant heat.
Add in airtight construction techniques and eliminate the thermal bridges for the structures and that further help to decrease heat loss/gain and keep the interior at a constant temperature. This again decreases energy use and raises a home's overall energy effectiveness.
High-quality continuous insulation is used in certified passive house designs to prevent heat loss/gain and maintain a constant interior temperature. This again decreases energy use and raises a home's overall energy effectiveness plus creates a super peaceful internal environment where the outside noise stays outside.
A ventilation system that filters air coming on to the home so no dust, pollens, allergens get in plus removes the CO2 we breathe out and the humidity from showers and cooking etc and you have the final element that ties together why a Certified Passive House is so energy efficient, so ultra comfortable and so healthy.
Are Passive Homes Customisable?
Yes, passive houses are indeed highly customisable. This is because the basic criteria for a certified passive house design is adaptable to almost any type of structure, from a single-family dwelling to a multi-story building or a commercial property. By utilizing the principles of passive solar design, airtight construction, and quality windows and insulation, the building’s thermal performance can be tailored to the specific needs of the residents. Additionally, the ventilation system can be customised to provide the desired level of air quality and humidity control.
Furthermore, passive house designs can also be customised to complement the aesthetic of the building, while still providing the needed energy efficiency. For example, a passive house can be designed to have an open floor plan with plenty of natural light, or a traditional layout with more private spaces. Furthermore, materials can be chosen to match the existing architecture and aesthetics, while still providing the required level of insulation and airtightness. Ultimately, with a certified passive house design, energy-efficient living can be achieved while still providing the comfort and design that you desire.
What is the difference between a passive house and a green building?
Passive homes are an energy-efficient building concept where a home’s design and construction use methods that reduce the amount of energy consumption needed to maintain comfortable living conditions. Passive homes are designed to minimize energy usage by utilizing natural elements such as sunlight, temperature, and air flow in order to create a self-regulating environment. This means that the building requires very little energy for heating and cooling.
A green building, on the other hand, is a structure that is designed and managed to reduce its environmental impact and conserve resources. A green building is typically constructed using sustainable materials and technologies that are designed to improve the efficiency of the building and its operations. As a result, green buildings require less energy than conventional buildings, resulting in reduced energy costs. Additionally, green buildings often feature features such as daylighting, green roofs, and natural ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption and conserve resources.
What certification is required for a passive house to be considered 'passive'?
In order for a building to be considered compliant with the Passive House standard, it must receive certification from the Passive House Institute (PHI). This certification demonstrates that the building has met the stringent criteria of the Passive House standard, which sets limits for energy use and includes requirements for insulation, airtightness, ventilation, and window performance. As such, achieving certification is a sign that the building is suitable for long-term, energy-efficient living.
What additional features can be added to a passive house to make it more efficient?
Passive houses are already very energy efficient, but there are a few additional features that can increase their efficiency even further. Increasing insulation, installing triple-glazed windows, and using an airtight building envelope are all great ways to improve a passive house's efficiency. Additionally, adding a heat recovery ventilation system can help maintain healthy indoor air quality while controlling the temperature in the home. Finally, installing solar panels to generate renewable energy can further reduce a passive house's energy consumption.
Conclusion
An affordable and environmentally beneficial approach to build a structure that prioritises energy efficiency, sustainability, health and comfort is with a certified passive house design. This construction standard uses insulation, airtightness, and passive solar design to save energy while producing a healthy living environment. For a cost-effective and environmentally responsible way of living, those building new homes or remodelling existing ones can benefit from certified passive house design in conjunction with renewable energy sources.