What is the Passivhaus standard?

There is a global and widespread trend in favor of sustainable development and energy efficiency that occurs in all areas, including construction, architecture, and interior design. This has been greatly contributed to by the Passivhaus standard, which originated in Germany in the 1990s. It is a proposal based on the promotion of high energy efficiency constructions.

Energy efficiency and building construction

In fact, citizens and the productive sector can access various aids and subsidies. Some of these have been called within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, an initiative backed by European funds Next Generation.

Thanks to public support, it is possible to install controlled ventilation systems or energy self-consumption. Thus, homes or any other type of buildings reduce their carbon footprint.

Currently, new constructions are subject to strict environmental and energy regulations. They must meet a series of requirements, for example, to consume less electricity or use a smaller amount of water. This translates into considerations that range from the installation of better ventilation systems to quality insulation.

That is to say, the energy efficiency-based approach has significant implications in construction planning. Design, materials, the technology used, and the appliances acquired to achieve the lowest possible consumption and ensure it is sustainable are valued.

On the other hand, many old buildings must undergo energy reviews. In some cases, they have to be renovated and adapted to make them more sustainable.

What is the Passivhaus standard and what is it for?

The foundations supporting this housing concept are thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and low energy consumption. In fact, it is estimated that, compared to a traditional property, a passive house saves on average between 75 and 90% of the energy used for heating and cooling.

It should be noted that buildings require 35% of the total energy consumed in the world. This represents a huge carbon footprint that, however, would be drastically reduced if the Passivhaus standard were generalized.

Without a doubt, the most important advantage is achieving constructions that are much more environmentally friendly. However, these houses go further, as they positively impact the health and well-being of their inhabitants. They enjoy better air quality, and moreover, the temperature is constant throughout the year.

Talking about a home of this nature implies controlled ventilation systems and sustainable design. This is complemented by a high level of insulation thanks to high-performance windows. The construction includes airtight materials and buildings without thermal bridges.

As you can see, energy efficiency and respect for the environment are two of the fundamental premises in the Passivhaus standard. If you want to know more details about these buildings, we recommend you discover what the great advantages of passive houses are.