Passivhaus Requirements

Not only an energy standard but gives the highest comfort levels:

Internal temperature 20°C in winter, 25°C in summer.

Achieved by heating or cooling the flow of fresh air entering the building envelope; heating/ cooling load 300W per person, based on 30m3 of air per hour.

High insulation of building shell.

Design U values for windows (including frames): 0,8 W/(m²K) g-Value 50%;

for walls, roof and foundation: 0,15 W/(m²K).

No ‘thermal bridges’

Uses not more than 15kWh/m2 per year for primary heating / cooling

Uses not more than 120kWh/m2 per year for all energy including domestic hot water

Airtight – Blower door test to give not more than 0.6 air changes per hour at 50Pascal

South orientation & freedom from over shadowing allows passive use of solar energy

Heat recovery from exhaust air at more than 75%

Low energy/ high efficiency household appliances

Passive pre-heating of incoming air

Ground mass heat exchanger and/or solar panels optional for heating domestic hot water

© Passivhaus Institut Darmstadt