Who created Passivhaus?

Wolfgang Feist
It was developed in Germany in the early 1990s by Professors Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist. The first Passivhaus dwellings were constructed in Darmstadt in Germany in 1991. It is intended primarily for new buildings, although it can be applied to refurbishment projects, but this can be expensive.

How is a passivhaus heated?

A Passivhaus building can in theory be heated via the fresh air supply – that is after it is heated to around 50°C. This idea of doing away with a conventional heat distribution system helped define the Passivhaus standard, but isn’t necessarily the best choice.

Are passive houses more expensive to build?

Currently, a passive house typically costs about 5-10% more than a conventional home. Larger projects benefit from the economy of scale: a multifamily passive building typically only costs 0-3% more than a building built to an energy star baseline.

What is needed for a passive house?

The key requirement for a Passive House is that the energy needed for space heating must not exceed 15 kWh/m2/yr. The Passive House standard was developed in Germany by Professor Wolfgang Feist, as a ‘fabric first’ approach to minimize the energy requirements and running cost of a building.

Is passivhaus carbon neutral?

The analysis shows that Passivhaus is the only realistic way to achieve Zero Carbon without massive renewable energy expansion coupled with a significant investment in grid capacity.

What are the benefits of passive design?

Using passive design can reduce temperature fluctuations, improve indoor air quality and make a home drier and more enjoyable to live in. It can also reduce energy use and environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions.

What is one possible downside to building a passive house?

Main Challenges of Passive House Construction

  • Backup heating and cooling systems become necessary, and builders may require plenty of insulation to stay below the limit of 15 kWh/m2/year.
  • The required energy performance can also limit window area, and those used must have triple glazing and low-e coating.

What is a passivhaus design?

The Passivhaus design methods can be adopted for new build designs, both residential and commercial, and on retrofit buildings of all types. There is in depth guidance associated with the different types of Passivhaus build and different certifications according to new build or retrofit status.

Is timber the best material for Passivhaus construction?

It is a common misconception that timber is best for Passivhaus construction. Ironically, there is also a misconception that ‘natural materials’ are not suitable for Passivhaus, therefore ruling out the use of timber.

What is the Passivhaus Trust?

The Passivhaus Trust recommends that the best way to achieve quality assurance for a Passivhaus project is through certification by a registered Passivhaus Certifier. It is reasonable to claim that a building is a non-certified Passivhaus provided that it still meets the requirements of the standard.

Is it reasonable to claim a building as a non-certified Passivhaus?

It is reasonable to claim that a building is a non-certified Passivhaus provided that it still meets the requirements of the standard. Read more about this in our Technical briefing paper ‘Claiming the Passivhaus Standard.’