What is a Passivhaus?

A Passivhaus, or passive house building in English, is designed for ultra-low energy consumption combined with consistently good internal air quality. This is achieved with super-insulation, thermal bridge free design, heat recovery ventilation (MVHR) and highly controlled air infiltration rates. From early in the design process, special energy modelling software - the Passivhaus Planning Package - is used to calculate how the proposed design will perform.

The Passivhaus standard has a proven track record stretching back two decades. The table below shows how it compares with other average and low energy standards.