HPH280 : A beginner's guide to the Passivhaus Standard – with Jon Bootland
Mar 4, 2020
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Jon Bootland, Chief Executive of the Passivhaus Trust, discusses building your house to the Passivhaus Standard. Topics include origins and development of the standard, adoption and growth, adaptations, building materials, and advice for beginners.
Building to the Passive House standard incurs a cost of 4-8% more than conventional construction, but the long-term benefits such as reduced energy bills and improved health and comfort justify the investment.
Passive House construction emphasizes a holistic approach with continuous insulation, high-performance windows, and meticulous attention to airtightness, allowing flexibility in material choices while prioritizing comfort, energy efficiency, and optimal performance.
Deep dives
Introduction to Passive House Standards
In this podcast episode, Ben Adam Smith interviews John Bootland from the Passive House Trust to provide a beginner's guide to the Passive House standards. The Passive House standard was developed to create comfortable, low-energy buildings that perform as intended. The foundations of the standard involve a focus on insulation, high-performance windows, airtightness, and ventilation. Additionally, Passive House considers summer comfort to prevent overheating. While specialized contractors are not required, having an expert on the team is recommended for optimal results. The certification process ensures that a building meets the Passive House standard, leading to benefits such as low energy bills, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced health and comfort.
Costs and Benefits of Passive House
Building to the Passive House standard typically incurs an additional cost of 4-8% compared to conventional construction. This extra cost covers better quality assurance and the additional performance requirements. However, the long-term benefits of Passive House significantly outweigh this investment. These benefits include reduced energy bills due to high levels of insulation and airtightness, improved thermal comfort, optimal indoor air quality with mechanical ventilation, and potential health benefits such as reduced asthma symptoms. Moreover, Passive House minimizes the risk of overheating in summer and offers a remarkably even temperature throughout the year.
Construction Considerations and Materials
Passive House construction can be achieved using various methods, including brick and block, timber panels, or other traditional materials. The key is to prioritize a holistic approach and ensure continuous insulation around the building envelope, along with high-performance windows and meticulous attention to airtightness. While incorporating natural materials can reduce embodied energy, Passive House allows flexibility in material choices. Efforts are underway to account for embodied energy in the planning tool. The overall focus is on building a comfortable, energy-efficient home that delivers on its intended performance.
Getting Started with Passive House
For those interested in building or retrofitting to the Passive House standard, it is encouraged to seek assistance from experienced professionals. Passionate homeowners, local authorities, and developers are increasingly embracing Passive House. The passive house community offers support, and there is a growing supply chain of experts and consultants available to guide individuals through the process. Although challenges may arise, taking the step towards Passive House offers numerous benefits and results in a remarkable building that ensures comfort, low energy consumption, and long-term performance.