About Passive House | Target Zero

Passive House criteria

super insulated building envelope, U < 0,15 W/(m²K)
avoiding of thermal bridges
compact building form
passive use of solar energy by south orientation and un shaded construction
super glazing and super window frames Uw < 0,8 W/(m²K); g-value around 50%
airtightness n50 < 0,6/h
heat recovery of outgoing air, heat supply rate >75%
high efficiency power saving household machines
heating of drinking water by e.g. photovoltaic or heat pump
passive pre-heating of air by e.g. ground heat exchanger

Minimization of losses and passive gain of solar energy are the fundamental principles of a Passive House. Its building envelope hinders the stored energy from escaping. This way “heat” can be generate with ease.

Limiting values for Passive House Standard

A Passive House is understood as a building

whose annual heat requirement doesn´t exceed 15 kWh/m²/year (equals 1, 5 liter heating oil per m” and year)
whose primary energy for residual heating, warm water supply, ventilation and household electricity, doesn´t exceed 120 kWh/ (m²a)
whose infiltration air change at 50pa is below 0.6 per hour

Passive Houses combine advanced building physics with highest energy efficiency and quality for the occupier. Although the Passive House is no new construction method, but rather a building standard, that defines special requirements for architecture, construction, ecology and comfort and develops them further on.

What is a PassiveHouse?

A building standard that is truly energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and ecological at the same time.
Passive House is not a brand name, but a construction concept that can be applied by anyone and that has stood the test of practice.

Yet, a Passive House is more than just a low-energy building.

Passive Houses allow for energy savings of up to 90% compared with typical central European buildings and over 75% compared with average new constructions. In terms of heating oil, Passive Houses use less than 1.5 litres per square meter of living space per year – far less than typical low-energy buildings. Similar energy savings have been demonstrated in warm climates where buildings require more energy for cooling than for heating.
Passive Houses are also praised for their high level of comfort.

They use energy sources inside the building such as the body heat from the residents or solar heat entering the building – making heating a lot easier.
Special windows and a building shell consisting ofhighly insulated exterior walls, roof and floor slab keep the desired warmth in the house – or undesirable heat out.
A ventilation system consistently supplies fresh air making for superior air quality without causing any unpleasant draughts. A highly efficient heat recovery unit allows for the heat contained in the exhaust air to be re-used.

Source: http://passipedia.passiv.de/passipedia_en/basics/what_is_a_passive_house

Advantages through Passive House standard

Sustainable savings for energy and secondary costs
Increase of independence in regard of fossil fuels
Better indoor air quality by possible CO2 and humidity regulation
Unburdened residence for allergic persons through high quality air filters
No thermal bridges, therefore no moist nor mold infestation
Through high insulation standard, reduction of summer heat
No draft through open windows
No disperse of dust by radiators
Avoiding of acoustic noise via closed windows
Overall improved acoustic insulation of the building envelope
Higher surface temperatures, increase in comfort
Improved teaching- and learning conditions through constant good air quality

The aim of Passive House standards is more comfort, simultaneous to lower monthly debit for financing and secondary costs, to maintain a high value in the long run high and protect the environment as well.