Passive Houses: Construction, Benefits, and New Building Regulations

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of passive houses, beginning with a definition and exploration of their key characteristics, such as heavy insulation, airtight construction, and efficient ventilation systems. It delves into the importance of passive houses, highlighting their sustainability, comfort, affordability, and versatility. The essay examines the construction techniques employed in passive house design, including superinsulation, passive solar design, and effective ventilation. Additionally, the paper analyzes the significance of passive houses in the context of new building regulations, specifically focusing on the concept of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB). The paper concludes by emphasizing the long-term energy savings, environmental benefits, and enhanced living conditions offered by passive houses, making them a compelling alternative to conventional construction methods. The paper also discusses the importance of the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) in the design process.

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PASSIVE HOUSES
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Passive Houses
Introduction
Living in an old house a windy or cold day will often mean layering on more sweaters,
and a constant thermostat checking to ensure that the heat is on, which may be a source of
argument whenever you have roomies where you argue over who is turning the eat down or high.
The effect of cold and warm sports is not only felt in old houses but also in modern homes,
where the upstairs bedrooms become disturbingly toasty while the first floor spaces lose most of
the heat to the high ceiling. But with the passive house, the summer highs and winter woes are
eliminated and are things of the past. Passive houses offer a comfortable environment in the
home with consistent temperatures in all rooms. With a passive house, there is no thermostat
subterfuge required or need to for extra sweater layers during winter woes or summer highs.
Passive houses do not have thermostats at all because it sustains a comfy condition without the
air condition systems or a boiler or conventional furnace. So what is passive house exactly? This
paper will discuss more of passive housing where the following aspects will be covered; the
meaning of a passive house and its characteristics, importance of the passive housing and
technique that is used to construct a definite passive house. Lastly, the paper will analyse the
issue on new building regulation referred to as nearly Zero Energy Building (ZEB) and the new
regulations associated with ZEB. Below is the detailed discussion of the listed subheadings
which have been mentioned.
A Passive House
A passive house is a house which has been designed to be an energy efficient hence reducing the
energy demand and heating needs in that house, therefore leading to a reduced effect on the

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environment (James and Bill, 2016). Also, it can be defined as a house in which a comfortable
and uniform interior climate can be preserved and continued without active cooling or heating
systems being used. A passive house is a leading standard globally in energy efficient,
comfortability and affordability design (James and Bill, 2016). The passive house started in
Central Europe where it was developed and applied as a building concept for residential
constructions but due to its demand it has spread all over the world, and passive house standard
has been implemented in a type of building.
Passive House is a construction concept but not a brand name, and it can be useful to anyone
who correctly applies the idea to meet the set standards (Corner et al., 2017). For a building to be
certified as a passive house the following are the specific standards that it must fulfil as required
by the Passive House Institute. The first requirement is the building which has been constructed
by passive house must have a space heating demand which is less or equal to 15 kWh/(m2) per
year or a heating load of 10W/m2 as calculated by the Passivhaus package of planning (Corner et
al., 2017). Another standard is that the house should have a total primary energy consumption
which serves as the energy for hot water, heating and electricity which is less than 60kW/m2 per
annum. Lastly, another essential requirement of passive houses is that the building should have
air leakage which is less than 0.6 times the volume of the house per hour (Corner et al., 2017).
By considering the enclosure surface area, then the rate of leakage must be kept less than 0.05
ft3/min (Herk et al., 2016).
Passive House is characterised by the following:
Heavy insulation: This is the most critical component that is comprised in every passive
house which is a layer of super-efficient insulation that is continuously enfolded around the
building envelope and also underneath the concrete slab in the lower ground floor (Schnieders et

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al., 2015, p. 760). The insulation helps in minimising the transfer of heat between the outdoor
and indoor spaces.
Airtight Construction: airtight construction design is featured in passive houses to help
in eliminating the chances of humid outside air or moist air from getting into the house building
(Barreca and Fichera, 2015, p. 359). Moist or humid air has different effects like affecting air
quality, causing mould and even causing structural damage.
Passive houses do not contain thermal bridges: when air is heated inside a passive
house, it follows a pathway of minimum resistance to the outer side of the building (Barreca and
Fichera, 2015, p. 359). This is achieved because of the highly insulated walls, efficient windows
and doors.
Effective ventilation: this is an essential component that is passive houses. The
ventilation system is centrally located to ensure a continuous exchange of moist air from inside
the house and the filtered outside air (Schnieders et al., 2015, p. 760). This is to maintain a
comfy condition by ensuring constant humidity and temperature level.
Super-efficient windows: the design of the window for passive house bears a significant
consideration and varies with climatic changes from one region to another region (Barreca and
Fichera, 2015, p. 359). Commonly windows which are triple-paned and are of Low-E glazing
and insulated frames are used.
Technology for passive heating: passive house concept was majorly concentrating on
the ability to create a relaxed condition inside the house with the use of nothing but the fresh air
at the outside of the building. It is achieved by the use of ventilation air system air where the cold
air entering is heated by the warm air exiting (Schnieders et al., 2015, p. 760). The last

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characteristic is the Passive Solar gains where passive houses are majorly relying on the warmth
of the sun as its primary source of heat in the house.
Importance of a Passive House
Passive House has a wide range of importance and advantages that are associated with its
design. Below is the analysis of the significance of the Passive House.
Sustainability
A Passive House involves usage of energy which is as little as 10% of the energy consumed by a
typical building in central Europe (Zaidan, and Abed, 2018, p. 01). By such a little consumption
translates to an energy saving of up to 90% in cooling and heating related energies where only
1.5 litres are required per square metre (Zaidan, and Abed, 2018, p. 01). In warm climatic
regions, the passive house has shown large margins of savings where buildings require cooling
all around the summer. Energy savings translates to emission reduction making Passive House a
maintainable alternative to a conventional structure. Also, since Passive House requires no
cooling or heating systems on conventional measures, then the money saved for installing the
heating and cooling system can be invested in installation of better windows and door, efficient
ventilation systems and thicker insulations which are the essential construction properties for
Passive House (Zaidan, and Abed, 2018, p. 01).
Data collected from the first Passive House which was built in Darmstadt in Germany in
the year 1991, showed that when daily highs felled to -14 degree Celsius, the temperature in the
indoors were maintained at 20 degree Celsius yet there was no installation of any conventional
system for heating in the house (Foster et al., 2016, p. 412). This is clear evidence that Passive
House offers long-term energy savings and promotes the reliance on the renewable source of

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energy; hence Passive Houses are a better investment that cost saving and good for our
environment. With reduced energy use then there is reduced emission to the atmosphere
therefore reducing the environmental pollution and global warming minimisation. Thus, Passive
Housing is sustainable and helps in decarbonising global economies while it meets the global
development requirements (Foster et al., 2016, p. 412).
Comfortability
Even though Passive Houses are known and recognised because of their lower energy use
and the associated energy cost saving, their residents appreciate most for the level of comfort
they get from the Passive Houses (Omrany and Marsono, 2016, p. 13). When the Passive House
is built with the right materials where extreme insulation of the building envelope is maintained,
triple glazed windows and insulated frames are installed the warmth or coldness is maintained at
a pleasant level all over the house. The ventilation system in Passive Houses supplies the home
with fresh air which is at a pleasant temperature as more than 75% of the heat of the exiting air is
transferred to the incoming air without the use of any active heating methods (Omrany and
Marsono, 2016, p. 13). The continuous operation of the ventilation system in Passive Houses
ensures that the house never gets stuffy or stale whenever the windows are left unopened as it
happens in other typical homes. Also, the best part with the ventilation system in Passive Houses
is that the system supplies plentiful fresh, dust-free and pollen-free air hence maximising
comfortability for all people especially those people with respiratory complications or allergies
(Dahlstrøm et al., 2012, p. 473).

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Affordability and Durability
Apart from the fact that Passive Houses save money due to their long-term energy cost
saving, also they are surprisingly affordable to start with (Kovacic et al., 2018, p. 1779). This is
because the investment in buying higher quality components of the building which are essential
for Passive House construction standards is alleviated by the exclusion of the expensive cooling
and heating systems. Also, the high-quality material components that meet the Passive House
standards set by the Passivhaus Institute creates durability of the house. In some countries like
Germany, the cost of building a Passive House will be 8% higher compared to other typical
houses (Kovacic et al., 2018, p. 1779). With such a slight difference yet the outcome of the
Passive Houses is a long-term saving, durability, comfy conditions etc. then it is better for a
Passive House since the margin of costs of establishment is almost the same hence it is still
affordable. If you can build a typical house, then you can even afford to build a passive house.
Versatility
The Passive Houses are gaining popularity across the world not only because of the
benefits they offer but also because of the flexibility of the concept (Kiss, 2013, p. 69). The
quality standard of Passive House Standards has not dictated any specific methods of building
Passive Houses. This has created the flexibility with architects having the freedom to design
Passive Houses that suits their preferences and can construct by uses of wood, concrete or
composites. Due to the freedom of the Passive House construction even the prefabricated house
manufacturers have been involved in proving designs for passive houses (Omrany and Marsono,
2016, p. 13). Due to the versatility of the Passive Houses, it has been able to be applied in
constructing non-residential houses like schools, hotels etc. which are being built in accordance
to specific climatic conditions (Kiss, 2013, p. 69). Also, the Passive House concept has helped in

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skills development in the local markets as people are training themselves to use the new
techniques in different designs and constructions.
Construction Techniques for Passive House
The essential objective of the Passive House concept is to have a significant decrease in
heating energy usage (Kylili et al.,2017, p. 172). The designing of the Passive Houses is majorly
assisted by the use of a computer simulation package called Passivhaus Planning Package
(PHPP). Several technologies and techniques are used in combination to achieve the Passive
House Standards.
Superinsulation
The superinsulation is employed in Passivhaus building to radically decrease the rate of
heat transferred through the passive house floor, roof and walls. Various material for insulation is
used to a high value of resistance of heat flow through the material (R-Value) (Figueiredo et al.,
2016, p. 281). Mostly the insulation material considered those within the range of 0.10 to 0.15
W/(m2.K) of U-value (a measure of the rate of heat transfer through a wall or insulation material
(Figueiredo et al., 2016, p. 281).
Design of Passive Solar and Landscape
Energy-efficient landscaping and passive solar building designing are part of the essential
techniques used in Passive House construction to enhance energy conservation (Kylili et
al.,2017, p. 172). The methods of passive solar installation are mostly applied to a small building
with a reduced surface area. The major windows are slanted towards the equator-south if the
region is at the northern hemisphere and toward north if the part is in the southern hemisphere.
These orientations help in maximising solar gain. Solar gains in temperature climates help in

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minimising the total energy required in the house (Kylili et al.,2017, p. 172). Passive House
construction can be done by using lightweight or dense material, but commonly thermal mass is
always incorporated internally. This is to decrease the effect of temperature of summer peaks,
maintaining a steady temperature during winter and avoid overheating during autumn or spring
times.
Airtightness
The requirement for the building envelope is to be extremely airtight by meeting 0.60
ACH50 that is the rate of air changes at a given hour at fifty Pascal basing the answer on the
volume of the building (Hoes and Hensen, 2016, p. 82). Also, they can have 0.05 CF50/sf (this is
the cubic feet per given minute at 50 Pascal per square foot of the surface area of the building
enclosed (Hoes and Hensen, 2016, p. 82). These metrics are achieved by testing the air enclosure
barrier using a blower door when the house is in mid-construction. The designing of Passive
House is made in a way that the exchange of air is mainly done by the controlled ventilation
system hence minimising the heat loss or gain depending on the regional climatic condition
where the passive house is built (Hoes and Hensen, 2016, p. 82). Airtightness is also achieved by
careful sealing of all construction joints and service penetrations.
Advanced Window Technology
For the Passivhaus standard requirements to be met, the entire windows and frames are
always manufactured from a material which has high R-values (low U-values) which ranges
from 0.85 to 0.70 W/(m2.K) (Omrany et al., 2016, p. 1261). Then the windows are combined
with triple-pane glazing which is insulated and coated with materials that emit a low level of

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radiant making the window airtight. The triple-pane has three glazings at are separated by air or
gas to reduce the heat transfer.
Ventilation
Natural ventilation in Passive House is an essential component to help in maintaining a
conducive temperature by having a single or cross the ventilation. It is achieved by either having
a simple opening or by being enhanced by stack effect where there are a small ingress and a large
egress windows. In situations where the ambient climate is not favourable, mechanical
ventilation for heat recovery is recommended to maintain 80% heat recovery while involving
high-efficiency motors to sustain the air quality (Omrany et al., 2016, p. 1261). The
advantageous part of the Passive Houses is that they are airtight and therefore the rate at which
the air changes can be controlled to 0.4ACPH (air changes per hour) (Omrany et al., 2016, p.
1261). Passivhaus contractors recommend 200mm diameter and 40m long earth warming tubed
to be used at a depth of 1.5m (Omrany et al., 2016, p. 1261). The tubes are buried under the soil
to be the earth-to-air heat exchangers and pre-cools or pre-heats the intake air that goes to the
ventilation system.
Space Heating
Apart from the passive solar gain, passive houses maximise the intrinsic heat which
comes from internal sources in the house (Hoes and Hensen, 2016, p. 82). For example, waste
heat from domestic appliances, lighting, electrical devices which are not used for heating
purposes together with the heat from humans is maximised and used to eat the house. Due to the
airtightness in the houses these waste heats are used to serve as the warming heat for the house.
Sometimes 800 to 1500W dual purpose cooling and/or heating systems may be incorporated in

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the source air duct of the ventilation to regulate temperatures during hot or cold days (Hoes and
Hensen, 2016, p. 82). The air temperature is maintained at 50 degree Celsius where there is no
smell of boiling from dust that may have escaped the filters (Hoes and Hensen, 2016, p. 82). The
heating standards vary with regions and nations; therefore, before constructing a heating system,
one should consider acquiring the required standards according to the specific country.
Fig. 1 below shows the principle of Passive House operation where the tight insulation
around the house is shown, the ventilation system and different orientation of windows during
different seasons. Subsoil heat exchanger and air heat exchangers are shown in the diagram. The
diagram is a typical representation of the passive house.
Fig. 1 Passive House Principle (Dahlstrøm et al., 2012, p. 473)

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Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB)
Nearly Zero Energy Building is a building where there is a zero net energy that is
consumed. This means that total energy consumption by a building per year is equivalent to the
total amount of renewable energy that has been generated on the site (Kurnitski et al., 2011, p.
3281). The NZEB buildings lead to a significant reduction of total greenhouse gas emitted to the
atmosphere. The concept NZEB has been majorly employed by the European Union with other
countries that agreed on it with an essential objective that all the buildings in the region should
be under the NZEB standards by the year 2020 (Kurnitski et al., 2011, p. 3281). That is all
buildings should be energy efficient to reduce the carbon emission that has been leading to
climatic change. The directive suggested that constructions in the region accounted for 40% of
the total energy usage and since the sector is in a rapid growth that translates to increases energy
consumption and carbon emissions. The directive intends to reduce the greenhouse emissions by
20% by the year 2020 by increasing the amount of renewable energy used in sites which will
also increase energy security. The member states are required to come up with national plans that
will help in improving the Nearly Zero-energy Buildings in their specific regions and establish
regulations which will encourage transformation and refurbishment of building into nearly zero
energy building.
In May 2010 the European Union adopted a strengthening recast of Energy Performance
of Building Directives (EPBD) where the requirements for energy performance were made
stronger (Kurnitski et al., 2011, p. 8). The EPBD principle was to make sure that there is
transparency in efficiency of energy of buildings by making sure that performance certificates on
energy were issued to show the building’s energy ratings and that could be accompanied by a
recommendation letter that specified the best measures to efficiency improvement (Kurnitski et

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al., 2011, p. 8). The main concerns of the EPBD obligations were that when buildings are being
sold or advertised rent, then the performance certificates on energy are to be issued (Burnaman et
al., 2014, p. 160). Another point was that all buildings from December 2018 must be nearly zero
energy constructions(Burnaman et al., 2014, p. 160). Also, it was required that European
countries were to set standards for energy performances for every new building and buildings
which will be having significant renovations. The inspection schemes were to be developed for
the inspection of air conditioning and heating systems in every member state.
The nearly zero energy buildings are established through serious of testing and use of
sophisticated energy simulation computer software which helps in modelling how the house
would behave under different designs. After simulations and modelling where the exact required
measures are established the NZEB are constructed with consideration of essential energy-saving
features that have been developed (Kurnitski et al., 2011, p. 3281). High efficient equipment is
used to lower the cooling and heating loads. For example the use of heat pumps which are four
times efficient compared to furnaces. Other useful considerations are the installation of high-
efficiency LED bulbs, natural ventilation, high-0efficient windows and other techniques which
participate in minimising the energy use of a building. After the energy consumption of the
house has been reduced to the lowest level as possible, then the remaining required energy can
be supplied the use of renewable energy source like the use of solar panels mounted on the
rooftops (Burnaman et al., 2014, p. 160).

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Conclusion
In conclusion, the growing awareness of climatic change and energy efficiency has led to
the emergent of new techniques and methods in the building and construction sector which
included nearly zero emission building and the conception of Passive House. The Nearly zero
emission building method has been achieving their set objectives by implementing all necessary
green design technologies, techniques and strategies where onsite renewable energy technologies
are installed (Petersdorff et al., 2006, p. 354). The Passive House concept focuses on the aspect
of energy efficiency of the construction. The Passive House concept engages the principles of
conservative solar building and combines it with a super insulated construction envelope and
airtight strategy to come up with extremely low energy buildings. The techniques have helped in
global decarbonising of the economies and much helped in reducing the carbon emission to the
atmosphere hence reduced pollution. Since the new building techniques discussed in this paper
are affordable, sustainable, versatile, durable and offers high level of comfort to people then the
awareness of these techniques will be off great success in the whole world if more efforts to
educate people to embrace these building techniques will be undertaken (Petersdorff et al., 2006,
p. 354). When the whole world embraces these building techniques, then we can be sure of
reduced pollution as the carbon emission, and energy saving will be the theme across the globe.

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