{"id":12331,"date":"2020-01-24T16:41:38","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T16:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evalore.reload.es\/que-es-lean-construction-copy"},"modified":"2024-03-08T08:11:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T07:11:44","slug":"passivhaus-is-a-voluntary-standard-for-energy-efficiency-in-a-building-which-reduces-its-ecological-footprint-it-results-in-ultra-low-energy-buildings-that-require-little-energy-for-space-heating-or","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evalore.reload.es\/en\/que-es-passivhaus\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Passivhaus building? Basic principles and benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

The way we build plays a key role in the fight against climate change. The global building stock alone accounted for 39% of carbon emissions in 2019. Public authorities have begun to recognise their responsibility in this regard and have started to pass legislation to ensure that emissions are reduced across all sectors, including the building sector. In Europe, according to Directive 2010\/31, buildings must be almost zero consumption<\/em> (nZEB construction) since the beginning of 2020, meaning they are built under Passivhaus criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Passivhaus standard (or Passive House, as it is known in English-speaking countries) enables savings of up to 90% in energy consumption, and consequently in carbon emissions. In fact, a 1,500 m\u00b2 Passivhaus can achieve a reduction in emissions of up to 10 tonnes of CO\u2082, \u00a1the equivalent of planting 1,000 trees<\/a>!<\/strong> Passivhaus buildings also guarantee maximum comfort, high indoor air quality, and an increase in the property's value. Let's look at what this advanced way of building involves and what its benefits are.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. What is the Passivhaus standard?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Passivhaus standard is the most demanding energy efficiency standard in the world. It focuses on reducing the energy consumption of buildings to a minimum while maintaining high levels of indoor comfort. Formulated in 1988 in Germany, Passivhaus is based on exhaustive procedures in project development and construction execution. The latter ensures that the performance of the built building corresponds to the theoretical design values.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Passivhaus is focused on minimising the energy consumption of buildings while maintaining high levels of indoor comfort.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n

2. The 5 basic Passivhaus principles<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Passivhaus standard has 5 essential principles. These 5 principles work together to guarantee the final performance of the building. For the performance to be as estimated, the Passivhaus principles must be verified both during the design phase and, crucially, during the construction process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"5-passivhaus-principles-evalore\"<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 5 Passivhaus principles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.1 Excellent thermal insulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a Passivhaus, a key factor is achieving a building envelope with very low thermal transmittance. To achieve this, it is necessary to install abundant thermal insulation in the walls, floor and roof of the building.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.2 Absence of thermal bridges<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thermal bridges are points in the building envelope where thermal transmittance is higher, resulting in considerable energy loss. They are generally caused by a discontinuity in the insulation. Passivhaus requires thermal bridges to be minimised throughout the envelope, allowing insulation continuity. Furthermore, thermal bridges create cold spots on the inside that can cause damp, material damage and a loss of indoor comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.3 High-performance joinery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Passivhaus buildings require the use of high-performance windows and doors that are insulated and airtight. In the case of windows, two and even three panes are used, with the outer ones being low-emissivity with a cavity filled with inert gas. This ensures very low thermal transmittance, great acoustic insulation and the reflection or retention of energy during the different seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.4 Air tightness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to the belief of construction sector professionals, most of the energy in a building is lost through convection (fluid movement, in this case air) and not through conduction (heat transfer through one or more materials). For this reason, in Passivhaus buildings it is essential to guarantee airtightness against the outside air, meaning the minimization of such common infiltrations. To achieve this airtight envelope, it must be studied during the design stage and verified during construction that there is a continuous air barrier on the fa\u00e7ades, roof and floor to guarantee airtightness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.5 Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although if we create an airtight envelope, for health reasons it will be necessary to guarantee the renewal of indoor air. To achieve this, in Passivhaus projects we need to incorporate a dual-duct mechanical ventilation system which, in this case, will incorporate a heat recovery system that allows us to minimise energy losses. In certain climates, thanks to the heat recovery unit, it is even possible to air-condition buildings solely using ventilation and dispensing with specific climate control systems. One of the advantages of mechanical ventilation, in a context of extreme pollution alerts, is that it allows us to control the quality of the air with much greater precision, treating it when necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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