For those who are new to the home renovation and building scene, you’ve probably heard of the concept of Passive House design. But what does it really mean? At its most basic level, Passive House is a set of standards meant to optimise energy efficiency in buildings, reducing both electricity and gas consumption. Let’s go into more detail about what it is and how it works.
What is Passive House Design?
Passive House design is an internationally recognised standard for designing energy efficient homes with minimal heating and cooling needs. This type of design focuses on airtightness and insulation, which helps reduce energy costs. The idea behind the standard is to create homes that are comfortable all year round without relying on expensive heating or cooling systems.
To achieve this goal, Passive House design incorporates several key elements. This includes sealing around window frames, cut-outs for cables and even power point cut-outs to ensure that heat doesn’t escape from any small openings. In addition, this type of design also uses high levels of insulation in walls, ceilings and floors to keep temperatures consistent throughout the home. High performance windows and triple glazing can also be used to maximise insulation further. Simply put, Passive House is a way to build a house that is not only comfortable but also highly energy efficient.
The Benefits of Passive House Design
If you’re looking for ways to make your home more sustainable and comfortable, Passive House design is worth considering. Here are some of the key benefits.
Reduced Energy Consumption
The most obvious benefit of building a Passive House is that it will help you save on energy costs by reducing the amount of gas and electricity you use for heating and cooling your home. By using insulation, airtight seals, and other techniques to improve the thermal efficiency of your house, you can significantly reduce how much energy it takes to keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. As an added bonus, this will also help reduce your carbon footprint!
Improved Comfort
Achieving thermally efficient conditions within your home can do more than just save money; it can also make your home more comfortable. With proper insulation, airtightness, ventilation, and other features of the Passive House design standard, you can create an environment where temperatures remain relatively consistent from room to room and season to season. This means no more cold drafts or hot spots—just a comfortable living space all year round!
Environmental Sustainability
Passive Houses are eco-friendly structures that focus on energy efficiency and reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. By consuming less energy for heating and cooling, Passive Houses help to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Passive homes also focus on indoor air quality through proper ventilation, reducing indoor pollutants and allergens.
To further reduce your environmental impact, Passive Houses often integrate renewable energy sources such as solar panels. By combining these features, passive homes are a sustainable choice for a greener planet and a healthier living environment.
Foss Constructions – Pro Clima
Pro Clima Product Range
If you’re looking to build a Passive House, consider using Pro Clima. Pro Clima has been developed specifically for the Australian market and offers high quality thermal moisture sealing products at affordable pricing. Their wraps are UV stabilised and feature a tear-resistant barrier to ensure reliable performance over time. Pro Clima products can be used to seal around window frames, cut-outs for cables and even power point cut-outs to reduce heat loss or gain from the outside environment.
In summary, Passive House design is a great way to make your home energy efficient while still enjoying comfortable living conditions all year round. By incorporating features such as airtightness insulation around windows and doors, triple glazing on windows, and natural ventilation systems, passive homes can reduce your reliance on traditional forms of heating and cooling while still maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature.
Interested in Passive House design? With Pro Clima’s range of products available through Barwon Timber, it has never been easier to reach the Passive House standard for your home – reducing gas and electricity consumption along the way. Start building your dream Passive Home today!
For further information on Passive House products, speak to our Hardware team.