What is Passive House?

Passive house is an enclosure first “passive” approach.

It is a voluntary standard for buildings where the primary goals are to achieve superior energy efficiency and occupant comfort. It is an enclosure first “passive” approach that encompasses all aspects of high energy performance, sustainability and resiliency that can be applied to all types of buildings, in all types of climates.

Why Passive House?

Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the primary goal for Passive House. Taking a building enclosure first approach, the high R-value requirements reduce the energy demand of buildings up to 90% in comparison to existing buildings and 70% in comparison to typical new constructions. The low energy demand of Passive House designs promote the use of passive solar heating and daylighting as well as smaller mechanical systems which further increases the energy efficiency of a building. Consequently, in comparison to typical buildings where heating and cooling energy is dominant, the energy consumption to power electricity and the total embodied energy of the construction materials used in Passive House buildings becomes more significant.

Occupant Comfort
Passive House buildings are often described as quiet and comfortable. With most of our day spent indoors, occupant comfort is a critical consideration when designing for high performance. The high performance enclosure in combination with stringent demands for mitigating thermal bridging and air leakage increases interior surface temperatures while reducing the risk of cold draughts and potential for condensation that can lead to poor indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Furthermore, a highly insulated building enclosure helps to improve indoor acoustics creating a productive work environment and a healthy home.

Sustainable and Resilient
The Passive House standard is often adopted when aspiring to achieve net zero energy buildings. The low energy demands make it easier to incorporate renewable energy sources. Additionally, in times of climate change and severe weather occurrences, high thermal autonomy and resiliency in buildings is critical. A high-performance building enclosure increases the thermal autonomy of a building where the building can passively maintain comfortable conditions without the use of active systems.

Learn more about Passive House in our solutions guide: https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/advice-and-inspiration/learning/passive-house/

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