What is a Passive House?

Put simply, the term ‘Passive house’ is a voluntary building standard. This standard utilises a set of design and building principles which focus on a building’s energy efficiency. This energy efficiency is specifically focused around heating and cooling. This results in another vital component of a passive home, a very low ecological footprint.

Do they look different?

Passive homes often look very similar to standard built homes. As passive building becomes more popular in Australia, suppliers are working towards creating passive products that aesthetically match those of a standard build. It’s what we don’t see that sets a passive home well apart from a standard home. This includes purposely designed windows with triple gas filled glazing, combined with high-quality thermal insulation to maintain that constant internal temperature. Additionally, builders ensure there are no air-leaks, air currents or thermal bridging. The ventilation system, of which we don’t see in a standard home, ensures that steady indoor temperature. Finally, the location of the passive home utilises external properties such as natural shade to optimise energy efficiency.

Do they cost more?

Australia is somewhat behind compared to other countries when it comes to passive building practices. Europe and Canada have been utilising this methodology for many years, and hence sourcing appropriate materials there to construct a passive home is not out of the ordinary. This of course drives prices down. However, in Australia as passive building is still gaining traction, some materials are more difficult to source when compared to your standard method of building. Of course, every project is different and cost will always vary greatly depending on project size, design and quality.

A good investment?

Applying passive building principles to your home will greatly reduce your annual heating and cooling consumption. Not only will this keep your everyday energy bills to a minimum, you will protect yourself against the ever-increasing rise of energy prices. These savings alone will then greatly contribute to the upfront costs associated with building a passive home. However aside from a great financial investment, you can be sure building a passive home will prove an overall better level of comfort when compared to your standard built homes.

Why are they so comfortable?

Temperature – By utilising measures such as thermal insulation, high performance windows and building techniques to ensure a complete airtight home, passive homes can easily maintain a steady level of internal temperature. It’s Quiet – As these homes are so airtight, you can expect a decreased level of external noise traveling through your passive home. Air quality – Utilising the specifically designed ventilation system ensures your passive home will always have a steady flow of fresh air. Unlike leaving a window left open, this system uses the air being expelled from inside the home to adjust the temperature of the air entering the home, resulting in continual comfort.

Is the ventilation system loud?

Various techniques are applied during the installation of the ventilation system to ensure noise is kept to a minimum. The main system is placed in an area of the house not regularly visited, so barely noticed. The ducting is built and placed specifically in the house to reduce sound of air passing through. Overall, the noise you will hear from this system is very minimal.

What about power outages?

If your passive home is connected to mains electricity, you can expect all electrical systems to cease working during a power outage. If you have a stand-alone solar system with batteries, this will see you through a power outage for as long as your batteries contain power. But this is where a passive house outshines a regular house. By applying passive building principles to a home, you can expect the house to maintain that great level of comfort, whether it be warm or cool, for far longer than a standard home. Can you open the doors and windows? Absolutely. Passive homes have no restriction in this regard when compared to your standard homes. The beauty of a passive home is that because they are fitted with ventilation systems that allow for such high quality air inside, the need to open windows in the first place is greatly reduced. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some fresh air on a beautiful day!

What about moisture and mold problems?

This issue is taken into great consideration during the design and building process of a passive house. This is one reason why the continual ventilation, made possible by the installed ventilation system, is so important. This system also produces high air quality which is a big contributor to reducing instances of mold or moisture.