What is PassiveHouse?

PassiveHouse & EnerPHit are the leading international low-energy construction and retrofitting standard for residential and commercial buildings that is truly energy efficient, comfortable and affordable at the same time. The first PassiveHouse was built in 1991 in Darmstadt, Germany. We are proud to being able to offer you our know-how and show you how PassiveHouse/EnerPHit will help create a comfortable and healthy home.

The PassiveHouse criteria for a new-build house in Central European climate are:

  • space heating/cooling demand of ≤ 15kWh/m² per annum (or space heating/cooling load of ≤10W/m²)

  • primary energy demand of ≤ 120kWh/m² per annum (including hot water, space heating/cooling, fans, lighting and appliances)

  • airtightness of n50 ≤ 0.6ac/hr

  • internal surface temperatures > 17ºC at all times

  • internal temperature not to exceed ≥ 25ºC for more than 10% of the year (UK guideline is 5% with a best practice target of 0%)

For retrofitting (EnerPHit) an existing building, some criteria are slightly less stringent:

  • space heating/cooling demand of ≤ 25kWh/m² per annum

  • primary energy demand of ≤ 120kWh/m² per annum plus heat load factor

  • airtightness of n50 ≤ 1.0ac/hr

Source: passivhaustrust.org

Why use PassiveHouse/EnerPHit?

Comfortable & healthy

  • summer and winter comfort

  • no draughts

  • no cold surfaces or down draughts

  • excellent indoor air quality

  • silent ventilation

Low energy:

  • minimal heating/cooling required

  • efficient services, lighting and appliances

  • addresses energy security

High quality:

  • robust and long lasting construction

  • real performance matching predictions

  • certified designers, certifiers, trades, products and buildings

Affordable:

  • can be achieved for capital costs comparable with standard build

  • much lower running costs

  • alleviates fuel poverty

Exceeds policy requirements:

  • performs better than current and upcoming building regulations

  • will help to meet the 2016 Zero Carbon target

  • measured performance meets the new “as-built” proposals

Environmental:

  • focus on minimising energy consumption

  • can incorporate other environmentally friendly features

  • helps raise awareness of general environmental issues

Get started

Please contact us if you wish to learn more about how PassiveHouse/EnerPHit and how your project could benefit from it.