Benefits of Passive House

  • Low Energy Use: Up to 90% less heating and cooling energy use, and 60-80% overall energy savings
  • High Quality Indoor Air: Controlled ventilation for a continuous, consistent supply of fresh air
  • Comfortable Indoor Temperature: 20ºC/68ºF (with no thermostat setbacks) in winter, night cooling in summer
  • Operational and Construction Savings: Vastly reduced utility bills; elimination of conventional HVAC system; much smaller solar systems required to reach zero energy; durable, tight building shell for lower maintenance, etc.
  • Proven Sustainability: 40,000+ buildings worldwide, some zero and even positive energy.

Economics of Passive House

The economic principle behind Passive House is the realization of a concept by Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute, which sought to reduce construction costs through energy efficient design. By dramatically increasing the energy efficiency of a building, the HVAC system can be downsized or simplified to the point that the mechanical cost savings can significantly offset the added investments in efficiency improvements. This efficiency “sweet spot” is the basis for the Passive House performance standard and the key to its financial feasibility. Amory calls it “tunneling through the cost barrier.” We call it the Passive House Standard!