Energy efficiency is something that is at the forefront of the construction industry at the moment, for both environmental and financial reasons. When building a new-build, whether that’s a home, office block, school, hospital or anything else, you should aim to be as energy efficient as possible.
“We are in a climate emergency. Buildings are a significant culprit of carbon emissions – accountable for 35% of total global energy consumption.” – The PassivHaus Trust
Imagine a home so energy-efficient that it practically heats and cools itself. Does it sound impossible? Well it’s actually a reality with Passivhaus, a leading international building design standard.
What is Passivhaus?
Passivhaus is a performance-based standard for ultra-low energy buildings. These homes achieve exceptional comfort levels with minimal energy use – up to 90% lower than a typical home!
How Does Passivhaus Work?
Passivhaus buildings prioritise five key principles:
- Super Insulation: Walls, roofs, and floors are thoroughly insulated to an exceptional standard to prevent heat loss in winter and unwanted heat gain in summer.
- Airtightness: Minimising air leaks is crucial from windows, doors and any other spaces. A well-sealed Passivhaus property maintains consistent temperatures throughout.
- Ventilation with Heat Recovery: Fresh air is brought in while extracting stale air, but a heat recovery ventilator captures heat from outgoing air to pre-warm incoming fresh air.
- Thermal Bridge-Free Design: These are weak spots in insulation, and Passivhaus construction addresses them to prevent heat loss.
- High-Performance Windows: Windows are a key element, employing advanced glazing and frames to maximise solar heat gain in winter while minimising heat loss.
What are the Benefits of Passivhaus?
- Reduce Environmental Impact: We should all be thinking about how we can reduce our carbon footprint and do our part to help the environment.
- Drastically Reduced Energy Bills: Passivhaus buildings use a fraction of the energy of a conventional home, saving you money and reducing your environmental impact.
- Superior Comfort: Consistent temperatures throughout the year mean no more drafty winters or sweltering summers.
- Improved Air Quality: The controlled ventilation system ensures a healthy indoor environment with a constant supply of fresh air.
- Increased Property Value: The energy efficiency and comfort of a Passivhaus home make it highly desirable.
Is Passivhaus Right for You?
While the upfront costs of building a Passivhaus may be slightly higher than a traditional build, the long-term energy savings are significant. Government incentives in some regions can further offset those costs. Also, Passivhaus principles can be applied to renovations and retrofits of existing buildings.
How can we help?
At CQS Solutions in Telford, we are passionate about doing everything we can to lower not only our own environmental impact, but also the construction industry as a whole. We have undergone carbon literacy training and are proud to apply our knowledge to the way we run our company, and we can help you achieve your PassivHaus build from start to finish.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you.