Last Updated on June 5, 2021 by Showrooms Online
Taking On The Unreliable Myths Of Passive Homes
There are some confusing and unreliable myths of passive homes circulating these days. We want to address these so you have the facts in case you are considering a passive home. Reducing greenhouse gases and energy consumption are headline news once again. If you plan to build a passive home or want to make your existing home more passive, you need this information. Passive homes are the future for home building so get ready. Debunking passive home myths will help explain why they are getting so popular.
What Exactly is a Passive House?
Passive houses use less energy to heat and cool. They conform to standards such as the German Passive House Institute or the U.S.-based PHIUS. The result of these standards is a home the uses up to 90% less energy than a traditional house.
Passive houses are considered green buildings, due to the energy savings achieved during their lifecycle. With traditional construction methods, buildings are strongly dependent on HVAC systems, which account for over 50% of their energy consumption. The main design principle of a passive house is achieving indoor comfort with as little energy consumption as possible. There are many ways to accomplish this. New York Engineers
1. Passive Houses Are Way Too Expensive.
Not everyone is ready or able to pay an arm and a leg to save on energy. Sure, we have concerns about greenhouse gasses and the environment. But, our bank account won’t allow many of us to consider a passive home. In the end, the money I save won’t ever make up the extra cost anyway.
Yes, but really only marginally! Even though there are several examples of Passive Houses being built for the same cost as (and occasionally even less than) traditional construction, typically you pay a premium of up to 10% for the higher quality build. However costs are steadily coming down as the standard becomes more normalized worldwide, and as mentioned before the cost is usually offset by the massive reduction in energy bills, and the elimination of heavy mechanical heating and cooling units. ZH Architects
2. Passive Houses Are Too Stuffy.
Another of the unreliable myths of passive homes is that being airtight makes a house stuffy. No air gets in or out so it can get very stuffy. We all need fresh air. Plus, all the cooking odors and smoke get trapped in the house. And, doesn’t this promote mold and mildew?
Cold drafts account for 40 -50% of all heat loss in conventional new homes. Air leakage through the building assemblies also moves large amounts of moisture into the walls. This can cause mould, rot and building failure. Air tightness actually prevents these issues. All high-performance homes have an HRV ventilation system that provides continuous fresh air. The combination of an air-tight building skin with efficient ventilation system actually results in much higher indoor air quality. Passive House is a healthier building and a refuge for those with asthma and allergies. Passive Design
3. Passive Homes Have to be Oriented Perfectly to the Sun.
Another of the unreliable myths of passive homes is that being airtight makes a house stuffy. No air gets in or out so it can get very stuffy. We all need fresh air. Plus, all the cooking odors and smoke get trapped in the house. And, doesn’t this promote mold and mildew?
Incorrect – a shaded site is not an excuse to dismiss the Passive House standard out of hand. Passive Houses can be found in inner cities with a northerly aspect. Admittedly, you would face more of a challenge as Passive Houses are designed to optimize, and benefit from, solar gain. However, the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is the key to ensure that all of the site requirements are met to achieve the desired result. The Reno Coach
4. Passive Homes Are Ugly.
Passive homes have to look like big boxes to make them work. They don’t have enough windows, either. Some of the materials used on the outside of passive homes are stark and unattractive. Go ahead and build a passive house, it won’t look very good.
The first generation of Passive Houses was built with a more continental aesthetic. While this is the look for some types of Passive Houses, it’s not necessarily the norm for all of them. The main requirements for Passive House relate to the performance of the home. Therefore, the aesthetics can be developed as home and building owners see fit. Many Passive Houses have a more modern style, while some remain similar in style to the original Passive House models. Zehnder Group
5. It Costs Too Much To Run A Mechanical Ventilation System All Day Long.
If I have to run a ventilation system all the time, the cost will outweigh the energy savings. These systems are very complicated and consume a lot of electricity. Besides, they are too noisy.
HRVs and ERVs do require energy to run, but this energy is offset by the heat recovered from the exhaust air. Airtight homes equipped with heat recovery systems will have substantially lower energy costs per year than having ventilation without heat recovery. However if the house was significantly under-ventilated prior to the installation of the HRV/ERV the overall energy cost might go up due to the increased but now adequate ventilation rate. BetterBuildingsBC
It’s important to understand the truth about passive homes. They save a lot of energy and keep you comfortable year-round. They are affordable and provide a return on your investment every day. Check out this short video by Hans-Jörn Eich.
