A passive house is designed to reduce the consumption of energy in a home. Its energy reducing capabilities are very efficient and effective, reducing energy consumption by about 90{fdbc4709cc551e49611c5b1be0c1a74db4fbbff578c2436a04708111ff8b8303}. A passive home design considers the home’s functional elements and its external environment to produce a harmonious and self-sufficient building. Some of its benefits are improved air quality, improved home insulation, improved durability, and improved home’s overall comfort.
In a passive house, heating needs are four to ten times lower than those of a traditional house. This implies that the electricity bill is far lesser than those of the typical house. Though the construction is more expensive than building a conventional home, it is possible to optimize the costs.
To optimize the cost-benefit ratio of a passive house, one should;
- Favor compact building shapes
- Define a good orientation for the windows
- Ensure airtightness
- Create natural ventilation to cool the room
- Limit the walls’ insulation thickness
- Limit the length of the ventilation pipes to limit heat losses
- Avoid thermal bridges
The above point will help you reduce the additional costs associated with a passive home. In dealing with houses, it is always best to insure the property. There are tips on how to pick an insurance company that you must know to avoid duplicity and scams. It would be best if you investigate the insurance company before making any transactions with them.
Can I remodel my standard home to the passive home standard?
As stated earlier, passive homes are built to conserve energy—houses that are built to the passive home standard focus on energy efficiency. This is achieved by;
- Reducing the energy demand for heating and cooling
- Introducing renewables to offset the energy usage, or
- Generating an energy surplus that is stored or sold back to the grid.
“How then can you achieve the passive home standard for your standard home? Would the installments of some passive home materials help reduce the home’s energy usage?” are the questions on the lips of many people. It is not a realistic project to install passive house materials in your standard home, as the build is far different from the passive house standards. Houses with thermal bridging at the junctions of their foundations and basements will find it challenging to adopt the passive home standard.
To remodel your home to the passive home standard, you may try to;
- Improve all the house’s thermal insulation and pay close attention to the quality of the material used and professionalism.
- Reduce thermal bridging where it is possible to reduce it.
- Make sure to ventilate while installing heat recovery systems properly.
- Improve the overall airtightness in the home
- Use the passive house approved windows.
If you decide to retrofit to the passive home standard, you will need to find a certifier that will review your retrofit. You can check for them on the Passive House Institute website. Also, make sure to upgrade as your budget allows and focus on the areas important to you and your family.