Is Passive House the future of sustainable housing?

As concerns about climate change and energy efficiency continue to grow, the building industry is looking for new ways to construct homes that are more sustainable. One promising approach is Passive House, a building design standard that focuses on reducing the need for heating and cooling. By incorporating specific energy-efficient features and construction techniques, Passive House homes can achieve significant energy savings and provide a more comfortable and healthier living environment. In this article, we will explore the concept of Passive House, discuss its benefits and challenges, and consider its potential as the future of sustainable housing. We will also examine the positive impact that Passive House can have on the environment and explore how this approach to building design can contribute to a more sustainable future. 

What is Passive House? 

Passive House homes are designed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without using a lot of energy. The building is designed to minimise heat loss and draughts by considering shape, orientation, glazing and shading. Passive House homes incorporate high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and efficient heating and ventilation technology. 

What are the benefits of Passive House? 

One of the main advantages is the substantial reduction in energy consumption. Passive house can achieve up to 90% energy savings compared to conventional buildings , leading to significant cost savings for homeowners and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.  

Another key benefit of Passive House is the improved indoor air quality. These buildings minimise the infiltration of outdoor pollutants and allergens by incorporating advanced ventilation systems that provide a constant supply of fresh, filtered air. This can significantly improve the health and well-being of occupants, reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses and allergies. 

Passive House also offers increased comfort levels for occupants. The improved insulation and lack of draughts help to maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year, reducing the need for heating and cooling. On top of that, the use of high-performance windows and doors helps to block out noise pollution, creating a quieter living environment. 

What challenges can you encounter with Passive House? 

Due to Passive House standards requiring higher levels of insulation, air tightness and better sustainable technology than traditional construction standards, one of the challenges to overcome can be higher upfront development costs.  

Peabody is helping to mitigate this challenge by adopting the Passive House Design Methodology early on in the development’s design process, prioritising cost neutral design decisions. This is done by considering the shape, layout and orientation of building designs, directly influencing the opportunity to reduce the need for higher levels of insulation, while still delivering better more sustainable performance. 

Since the introduction of Passive House in the early 1990’s there has been considerable growth and uptake across the industry and therefore it is now considerably easier and more affordable to find qualified professionals with the expertise to design and build Passive House homes without disrupting the sensitivities of project viability. 

Advancements in innovative approaches to materials and components (such as insulation and technology) are also helping to mitigate this cost risk, helping Passive House design become more affordable and viable across multiple developments.  

The limited availability of materials and components specifically certified for Passive House homes can also pose a hurdle. These specialised materials may not be readily available in all regions or may come with extended lead times. The increased complexity in the design and construction process of Passive House homes further adds to the challenges. Achieving the desired energy efficiency and performance requires careful planning, coordination, and precision throughout the entire process, which can be more demanding than traditional construction methods. The result leads to better quality highly sustainable homes. 

Another potential challenge lies in moisture management. Traditionally designed homes rely on natural ventilation, benefiting internal air quality and moisture control. However one of the approaches to improving thermal efficiency of homes in order to meet the Passive House standard is to improve the air tightness, eliminating drafts and minimising heat loss. In order to maintain an appropriate level of indoor air quality and to manage internal humidity, this is supplemented with innovative technology such as Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery. Not only does this meet the requirements of traditionally designed naturally ventilated homes, it also improves on this by filtering the external air intake and extracting moisture better to further prevent damp and mould risk. 

Despite these challenges, the long-term benefits of Passive House in terms of energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability often outweigh the initial hurdles. As awareness and expertise in Passive House design and construction grow, these challenges are gradually being addressed, making Passive House homes a viable and increasingly attractive option for eco-conscious homeowners and builders alike. 

Peabody New Homes is using Passive House to build energy-efficient and affordable homes 

At Honeybrooke, located in Buckinghamshire near Milton Keynes, Peabody recognised the benefits of Passive House and took the opportunity to adapt a scheme that had already been granted Planning Permission with energy performance reflecting national building regulations. 

Marc Pearce-Fulker , the development manager for Honeybrooke, explains: "Peabody applied the principles of Passive House to prioritise customer comfort and affordability, by delivering better insulated lower energy homes. Passive House is one of the leading ways to develop sustainable homes. 

The homes proved to be very popular with all of our Shared Ownership homes being reserved off plan within 3 weeks of being released for sale. Which meant sales were well progressed when Peabody took handover. All our Shared Ownership homes are now fully occupied. 

To offer more homes of that standard, we are working on an upcoming new scheme: Deptford Landings. These will be our first homes to be certified to the Passive House Standard. We have appointed Higgins Partnerships to build these 189 affordable, low-energy homes. They will be one of the largest single-phase Passive House projects in the UK, with residents benefitting from reduced energy costs and improved air quality. 

If Passive House is often presented as a more expensive alternative to other builds, it is now becoming more affordable. But as environment and sustainability writer Kate de Selincourt explains as “building regulations tighten and an increasingly competitive Passive House sector emerges ” the price for Passive House Homes isn’t that much higher than normal build. This scheme will make this construction standard and improved housing even more accessible to people with lower incomes through social rent and Shared Ownership homes, helping local people from the council’s housing waiting list. 

What does the future of Passive House look like? 

As more and more people become aware of the numerous benefits of Passive House design, local authorities, housing associations and developers are starting to adopt the Passive House standard. In Scotland, it is even being considered in new building regulations. This industry is upskilling and improving the availability of trades across the supply chain which in turn is driving down the cost of building Passive House Homes. As supply becomes more forthcoming, Passive House will continue to be an increasingly popular choice for homeowners looking for a sustainable and energy-efficient way to build. 

The widespread adoption of Passive House design has the potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Passive House buildings consume significantly less energy than conventional buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels. By promoting energy efficiency, Passive House design contributes to a more sustainable future for our planet. 

Beyond its environmental benefits, Passive House design also offers numerous advantages to homeowners. Passive House buildings offer lower running costs and provide superior indoor air quality, enhanced comfort levels and reduced noise pollution. These factors contribute to a healthier and more enjoyable living environment, making Passive House an attractive choice for homeowners seeking a high-quality and sustainable lifestyle.