Passivhaus: the gold standard in energy efficiency

The methodology behind a Passivhaus building differs from some carbon neutral buildings, which use a combination of energy efficiency and clean energy generation to offset any energy use. A Passivhaus building aims not to use as much energy in the first place by being effectively sealed against the elements.

The actual construction methods of Passivhaus buildings will vary but they will all have some features in common, including:

• Far greater insulation than typical UK properties.
• Triple glazing, with insulated frames.
• Impressive airtightness levels (around 20x more than a standard build).
• Mechanical ventilation, with heat recovery system attached.

A Passivhaus building aims to reduce the need to heat the building to such an extent that you don’t need a conventional heating system. However, there will be some heating mechanism attached to the property – often it takes the form of a small heating element attached to the ventilation system.

These use very little energy and usually only kick in once the outside temperature drops below freezing. A passive house will also need to have a mechanism to heat water – it could be solar heating or an air source heat pump. These low carbon technologies produce no emissions at the point of use, so will be critical in the UK’s transition towards net zero.

You can find Passivhaus developments all over the UK. Currently, the largest residential Passivhaus development is in Plymouth, according to the Passivhaus Trust. Primrose Park, a development of 72 houses, came about because the land was too costly for commercial developers to build on. As a result, the council offered the former school site to affordable housing developers for a token £1 as part of a programme of activity to ‘Get Plymouth Building’.

Energy costs are so low for tenants of Passivhaus properties that they’re far less likely to default or get into arrears with their rent. Hastoe Housing Association, reports that rent arrears are virtually zero on its Passivhaus development, compared to a 3-4% rate generally across its stock.

Several developments in Scotland have also recently been given the green light. In March, Kingdom Housing Association was granted planning permission by Fife Council for a £5 million development of 30 new Passivhaus homes near Dundee. And in Loch Lomond, a social housing scheme in the Trossachs National Park will include 15 passive house affordable homes, as part of a strategy to address fuel poverty and preserve the natural environment.

The super energy efficient Passivhaus building technique has higher upfront costs, which deters commercial operators. However, it has significant cost saving and energy security implications for years to come – something that’s of significant interest to local authorities, housing associations and individuals who are particularly motivated to create sustainable buildings.

You can retrofit older properties so that they function along the same principles, although it’s not usually possible to reach the same levels of insulation as a specially designed property. The Passivhaus Institute does have a separate certification that recognises appropriate retrofitting work, which has a lower threshold than for a full Passivhaus building.

If the UK is to reach its net zero targets, it will need to apply some of the lessons from Passivhaus buildings to the wider housing stock. While most of us are unlikely to be able to create fully functioning Passivhaus type buildings, we can insulate and ventilate our homes effectively, to ensure that they are as energy efficient as possible.

We have advice on insulating your home and installing low carbon heating systems, including solar water heating and heat pumps.

Main image credit: National Renewable Energy Lab via Flickr