The “Passive House:” Finally a Reality

In years past, the idea of the “passive house” was only a dream. In concept form, the passive house was one that minimized energy losses and operated at maximum energy efficiency. The result would be a home with little to no monthly energy expenses and a fraction of the environmental impact of most homes. Amazingly, the passive house is no longer just a dream; in fact, it’s become a reality. Several companies are able to build passive homes for everyday consumers, creating a huge shift in what it means to have an energy-efficient home.

There are several elements of a passive home that can be incorporated to achieve this ultra energy-efficient status. The following are just a few key elements of today’s passive homes:

• Avoidance of heat gain or loss by using specially built windows with triple-pane, double low-e glazing. These windows are also strategically placed to ensure that natural lighting is utilized.
• Energy recovery ventilator placement provides a constant supply of fresh air without using much energy at all. In most cases, this system provides superior indoor air quality compared to that of most standard homes.
• Efficient heating systems use passive solar gain along with internal gains from people and electrical equipment to minimize energy use. In fact, the system saves up to 90% of space heating costs.
• Insulation efforts are increased to significantly reduce heat loss and ensure that the home’s heating system is ultra-efficient.
• Installation of Energy Star appliances and products guarantees that the home’s energy use is dramatically reduced. In these cases, only Energy Star products which far exceed (not just meet) energy-efficient standards are utilized.

Though there are many important and technologically advanced elements to a passive home, this type of residence isn’t out of reach for many Americans. In fact, the cost of building a passive home is only about 10% more than the cost of building a standard home. When you factor in the long-term savings of having little to no monthly energy expenses, there are actually savings in store for those who choose to build a passive house.

To find out more about passive houses, check out Phoenix Home Performance today at www.zerohomeenergy.com.