High-Performance Homes (Passive House)
Passive houses are built with enhanced insulation, airtightness, and energy efficiency to reduce heating and cooling needs, improve indoor air quality, and minimise environmental impact. Below are essential elements for creating a high-performance home, with each element tailored to the climate.
Key Components of passive houses
Insulation
Insulation helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures by keeping warmth inside during winter and outside in summer.
The right insulation thickness varies by climate, and it’s crucial for insulation to be continuous around the home without gaps, just like a warm jumper in winter.
Weather-Resistant Barrier
This barrier protectsthe home from wind and rain, often through a combination of exterior siding and a protective membrane.
Prevents moisture from entering insulation, reducing heat loss and preventing mould and structural damage.
Airtight Building Envelope
Airtight design prevents drafts, stabilises indoor temperatures, and lowers energy costs. As warm air holds more moisture, bringing in cooler outside air reduces relative humidity inside. Proper insulation also stops warm, moist air from reaching cold surfaces, cutting down on condensation, mould, and structural damage.
Thermal Bridge-Free Construction
Thermal bridges are areas where heat flows through insulation (e.g. a steel beam).
Thermal bridges can cause heat loss and create cold spots in your home, increasing heating and cooling costs and encouraging mould growth.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (HRV)
Ventilation ensures a steady flow of fresh, filtered air throughout the home.
An HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) unit maintains indoor temperatures, recovering about 90% of warmth or coolness from incoming air. It also filters out smoke, dust, and pollen, ensuring cleaner, healthier indoor air.
Efficient Windows
For high-performance windows, three factors matter:
Glazing: Double or triple glazing based on climate for better insulation and solar gain.
Frames: Thermally broken frames prevent heat transfer, maintaining comfort.
Spacers & Airtightness: Low-conductivity spacers and airtight seals reduce heat loss and improve air quality. Alpine Passivhaus partners with top manufacturers to find the ideal solution for your climate.
Fireplaces in High-Performance Homes
In high-performance homes, traditional wood fireplaces can pose challenges for both indoor air quality and temperature stability. These homes are designed for airtight efficiency, maintaining consistent warmth without drafts or temperature fluctuations. A traditional fireplace disrupts this balance and introduces pollutants, making it unsuitable for modern, energy-efficient designs.
