The Passive House movement is changing the way Australians live.
Passive House buildings are:
Flexible
Passive House design principles can be applied to any domestic or commercial building, from the most humble home to the tallest skyscraper. The approach allows for extraordinary flexibility around building design, size and materials.
Comfortable
Passive House construction techniques deliver a stable, liveable band of temperatures throughout the year, keeping occupants comfortable in all seasons. The combination of insulation and ventilation allows for noise-controlled, airy living spaces.
Controllable
The Passive House approach provides designers and builders with extraordinary control over building performance. And home owners can tailor their environment to their needs – and moods.
Healthy
Poorly ventilated spaces can sap the energy of occupants and promote the spread of damp, mould and mildew. A key aspect of the Passive House approach is continuous ventilation which circulates oxygen, energises occupants and helps eliminate toxins and spores.
Sustainable
Most modern houses use far more energy than is necessary. Collectively, the world’s buildings account for some 39 percent of CO2 emissions. The Passive Houses approach reduces the energy required for a comfortable home environment by up to 90 percent.
Affordable
Comfortable, more sustainable living doesn’t need to be expensive. You can take your first steps towards embracing Passive House principles with an investment equivalent to one take-away coffee a day.
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What is Passive House?
Passive House (German: Passivhaus) is a voluntary, global standard for commercial and residential buildings. The aim is to produce affordable homes that are healthier, more comfortable and sustainable.
Developed in Europe in the 1990s, the approach allows for a reduction of energy use by 50 to 90 percent compared to conventional buildings while offering occupants extremely high levels of comfort and environmental control.
The Passive House approach is suitable for buildings of any sort in any climate zone. It uses proven scientific principles to radically reduce energy consumption while still allowing for a high degree of flexibility around design and construction. Globally, the implementation of Passive House standards is overseen by the Passivhaus Institut, of which the Smart Plus Academy is a registered training provider.
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What does Passive House do?
A dwelling designed according to Passive House standards clearly separates the indoor environment from the outdoors. While the external conditions and temperatures are fluctuating constantly, inside the dwelling temperatures remain in a comfortable range between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. This is all achieved without the need for a massive heating and cooling system.
The Passive House approach provides designers with extraordinary control over performance outcomes. Meanwhile, building owners have precise control over their environment and the ability to cut their bills and reduce their environmental footprint.
How does it work?
As the name suggests, Passive House buildings rely largely on ‘passive’ influences such as sunshine, shade and ventilation to achieve comfortable temperatures rather than air conditioning and heating. The approach involves creating a high-performing building ‘envelope’ tailored specifically to the site and local climate. Mechanical ventilation ensures the continuous flow of air into your living spaces, while energy harvesting and heat recovery keep internal temperatures comfortable.
While Passive House originated in Europe, it is suitable for any climate zone and extraordinarily comfortable and energy efficient homes have been built and are being built across Australia.