Building a Passive House vs Conventional Home | Energy Efficient Homes
When it comes to building a new home, there are many factors to consider. One factor that is becoming increasingly important to homeowners is maximizing energy efficiency through proper design and selection of materials, to save on energy costs over the life of the home.
One design-build approach that can maximize energy efficiency is Passive House. Passive Houses are highly energy efficient and can save homeowners a significant amount of money on their energy bills as compared to a conventionally built home. Passive Houses can be built in virtually any architectural style, so there’s no compromise on aesthetics.
In this blog post, we will compare Passive House design to conventional home design in terms of efficiency standards, techniques and materials, energy savings, environmental impact, comfort, cost, and suitability for your climate.
Comparison of a Passive House vs. a Conventional Home
Energy Efficiency Standards
Passive House is a high-performance building standard that focuses on reducing energy consumption. Like a conventional home, a Passive House must meet the minimum building code; where it really shines is in its extreme energy efficiency.
A conventional home relies solely on building codes to set the minimum standard of construction. While building codes have improved over time, they are not nearly as stringent as Passive House standards for energy efficiency.
Techniques and Materials
- Insulation: Passive Houses have very high levels of insulation (often called super-insulation), which helps to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Conventional homes have lower levels of insulation than Passive Houses, and the insulation is often installed to a lower standard, resulting in significant thermal gaps.
- Airtight Construction: Passive Houses are very airtight, which helps to prevent warm air from escaping in the winter (and intruding in the summer). Conventional homes are not as airtight as Passive Houses, so air can more readily move in and out of the house.
- Windows: Passive Houses are built with high-performance windows, which provide excellent insulation against heat gain/loss. Conventional homes are allowed to have a higher total energy loss, and therefore often have poorly insulated windows.
- Ventilation: Passive Houses have a heat recovery ventilation system, which continuously supplies the home with fresh, filtered air while also recovering heat from the exhaust air. Conventional homes have a simple ventilation system (if any) that does not provide continuous, fresh, filtered air, nor does it recover heat from the exhaust air.
Energy Savings and Environmental Impact
Compared to a conventional home, Passive Houses experience a reduction in energy usage for heating and cooling by up to 90%, and total energy usage by up to 70%. Less energy use translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and therefore less contribution to global warming.
Comfort
Passive Houses are very comfortable to live in. They have more consistent indoor temperatures year-round, which means you don’t have to worry about being too hot or too cold. They also maintain their temperature for longer in periods of extreme heat or cold, making them more resilient in power outages. Passive Houses are also well ventilated, resulting in very good indoor air quality, which is important for your health and well-being. Also, Passive Houses are quieter: because they are so well insulated, they block out a lot of outdoor noise.
Cost
It costs much less to power a Passive House than it does to power a conventional home, making Passive Houses more affordable to live in. Some Passive Houses projects might cost more upfront, but these costs would be offset by lower operating costs and greater appreciation in value.
Suitability for your climate
Passive Houses can be built to deliver a high level of comfort and energy efficiency in any climate. Materials and techniques vary with different combinations of heat, cold, humidity, or aridity. Conventional homes are not suitable for extreme climates without the excessive use of energy for heating or cooling, and may not be as durable or resilient as a Passive House in those climates.
Conclusion
Passive House is a more energy-efficient and sustainable option than a conventionally built home. Any greater upfront investment would be offset in the long run. Added benefits include quiet, comfort, healthy indoor air, structural durability, and climate resilience.
Are you interested in saving energy and money, and having an exceptionally comfortable and healthy home? If so, contact Carmel Building & Design today to learn more about Passive House.
