{"id":12331,"date":"2020-01-24T16:41:38","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T16:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evalore.es\/wp\/que-es-lean-construction-copy"},"modified":"2024-03-08T08:11:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T07:11:44","slug":"passivhaus-is-a-rigorous-voluntary-standard-for-energy-efficiency-in-a-building-providing-comfortable-temperatures-all-year-round-while-requiring-very-little-energy-for-heating-and-cooling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evalore.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. Governments have begun to understand their responsibility in this regard and have started to pass legislation to ensure emissions are reduced across all sectors, including the building sector. In Europe, according to Directive 2010\/31, buildings must be almost no consumption<\/em> (nZEB construction) since the beginning of 2020, i.e. to be built to Passivhaus standards.<\/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 energy consumption to be reduced by up to 90%, and consequently carbon emissions. In fact, a 1,500 m\u00b2 Passivhaus can achieve a reduction in emissions of up to 10 tonnes of CO2, \u00a1the equivalent of planting 1,000 trees<\/a>!<\/strong> Passivhaus constructions also guarantee maximum comfort, high indoor air quality, and an increase in the property's value. Let's look at what it involves and the benefits of this advanced way of building.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 minimising building energy consumption while maintaining high levels of internal comfort. Formulated in Germany in 1988, 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 focuses on minimising the energy consumption of buildings while maintaining high levels of comfort inside.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n

2. The 5 basic principles of Passivhaus<\/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 during the design phase and, crucially, during the construction process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"5<\/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 the minimisation of thermal bridges throughout the entire building envelope, allowing for continuity of insulation. Thermal bridges also create cold spots on the interior, which can lead to dampness, damage to materials, and a loss of internal 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, insulated, and airtight windows and doors. In the case of windows, two and even three panes are used, with the outer ones being low-emissivity with an inert gas-filled cavity. This ensures very low thermal transmittance, excellent acoustic insulation, and reflection or retention of energy in different seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.4 Airtightness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to the belief held by professionals in the construction sector, most of the energy in a building is lost through convection (the movement of fluids, in this case air) rather than through conduction (the transfer of heat through one or more materials). For this reason, in Passivhaus construction it is essential to ensure airtightness against the outside air, that is, to minimise the all-too-common air infiltration. To achieve this airtight envelope, it must be ensured during the design phase and verified during construction that there is a continuous air barrier in the facades, roof and floor to guarantee airtightness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

However, if we create an airtight building envelope, it will be necessary to ensure indoor air renewal for health reasons. To this end, in Passivhaus projects, we need to incorporate a dual-circuit mechanical ventilation system which, in this case, will include 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 heat and cool buildings using ventilation alone, without the need for specific air-conditioning systems. One of the advantages of mechanical ventilation, in a context of extreme pollution alerts, is that it allows us to control air quality much more precisely, treating it when necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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