PASSIVE HOUSE 101

ARTICLE BY TIM DELHEY EIAN, TE STUDIO

This document summarizes the key elements of the Passive House building energy
standard for those who are new to it.
Passive House is a conservation first approach, minimizing heat-losses and
maximizing heat-gains.
The Passive House envelope minimizes heat-loss through superinsulation, airtight
construction, advanced windows & doors and heat-recovery ventilation, therefore
retaining space-conditioning energy very effectively. It maximizes passive solar heat
gains and combines them with internal heat gains from people and appliances, as well
as a tiny backup system for peak heat-load demand to create a balance between heatlosses and heat-gains.
Passive Houses are designed to operate without the use of a big, active mechanical
system (i.e. boiler and furnace), hence the name Passive House. Depending on climate
and location, point source heaters may be needed to satisfy peak heat loads in
extremely cold climates. In general however, the concept of a building that can be heated
with the help of a hair-dryer holds true. The overall space-conditioning energy load
(heating and cooling) is reduced by about 90% over standard construction.
Renewable energy resources can be used as an option to get to zero site energy, or
carbon-neutral operation, as well as net-energy positive operation (the building makes
more energy than it consumes).

TE Studio, Ltd.

Page 1

5/25/15

PASSIVE HOUSE 101

ARTICLE BY TIM DELHEY EIAN, TE STUDIO

TE Studio, Ltd.

Page 2

5/25/15