There are consumers for whom the record energy prices recorded in recent months are not such a serious problem.

And these are the owners of passive houses, who continue to enjoy the comforts of home at minimal cost.

But how is this possible in a context of military conflict, uncertain energy supplies and rising inflation?

The passive house concept is reduced to one of the world's leading standards that combines energy efficiency, convenience and affordability. At the same time, it is an example of sustainable and environmentally friendly construction.

This type of house needs only 10% of the energy consumed by an average European hometo maintain a comfortable environment.

This means that passive houses can save up to 90% of the energy consumers currently use. Interesting fact is that even new buildings that are built to modern energy efficiency requirements use on average 75% more energy than passive houses.

But where does this effect come from?

In general, the benefits of this type of building are based on several principles - superinsulation, airtightness, external influences (such as sun and shade) and ventilation. Thus, there is no need to resort to active heating and cooling with air conditioning or heating.

An additional plus of passive houses is that maintain stable temperatures without uncomfortable deviations and ensure good indoor air quality. Perfect insulation also reduces unpleasant outside noises.

What requirements must a house meet to be "passive"?

The energy demand for heating should not exceed 15 kWh/m2² of living space per year or 10W/m2² in peak season. For comparison, an average dwelling requires about 100 W/m2.².
The total energy required to meet all domestic needs (heating, hot water and electricity) shall not be more than 60 kWh/m2² per year.
Passive buildings must have a very high level of airtightness
Year-round indoor thermal comfort, with temperatures no more than 10% of the time during the year exceeding 25°C.

How are passive houses built?

It is necessary to rely on modern and intelligent design - the dwelling must be designed and oriented in an optimal way to take advantage of external factors such as sun and shade.

Along with this, there are several principles that must be followed:

elimination of thermal bridges
high class insulation
mechanical ventilation with heat recovery option
quality joinery
hermetic construction

Of all these factors, perhaps the most crucial is superinsulation, which protects the home from heat loss and maintains a perfect environment all year round. Even in extreme outdoor conditions, the rooms do not experience serious differences in air and surface temperatures.

In order for an insulation to be really good, however, quality materials are needed in its construction.

In this sense, Schöck Isokorb structural elements are the ideal solution because they provide insulation without compromise and are resistant to various weather influences.

They are also the best way to eliminate thermal bridges in rooms and help significantly to reduce heat loss and energy bills.

At the same time they do not disturb the insulation of the building and give complete design freedom.

Learn more about how to completely eliminate thermal bridges in buildings here.

The benefits of passive houses

The advantages of this type of housing are undeniable and very real. The passive house has it all:

year-round comfort - no matter the outside temperature
quality - passive houses meet some of the highest standards in construction
sustainability - low emissions and very low energy consumption
Affordability - the investment in a passive house may be slightly higher than for a conventional home, but it pays for itself many times over

One of the best things about this type of construction is that it is applicable to anyone, anywhere - both for residential buildings and for commercial and office buildings.

A passive house can be designed for any location according to its specifics, and its benefits are proven.

How can a passive house save up to 90% of energy?