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28 EXPLORING CURRENT THINKING ON PASSIVHAUS


“What are the biggest design stigmas for clients currently?”


The Future Homes Standard 2025 Some of those surveyed believed the Future Homes Standard, which ups the ante considerably on domestic new build energy efficiency (by 31 per cent via a combination of fabric improvements and bolt-on renewables), could take the place of Passivhaus in the UK. However, we asked our audience whether they believed that there was room in the market for both the FSH and Passivhaus, and a 90 per cent of respondents believed there was, some adding that we need to wait for further clarity on the standard. Only 9 per cent believe that the FSH would render Passivhaus obsolete, with 33 per cent “disagreeing strongly.” Some commenters criticised the FSH, e.g. for being “not as comprehensive, and relying too heavily on tech that can fail.” One commenter was vehemently pro-Passivhaus, saying “just make Passivhaus the standard – it demonstrably delivers!”


Sector applicability In total, 19 per cent of our survey respondents were currently working on a Passivhaus project, and 16 per cent had previously completed one, the vast majority in private housing. They believed this was the most appropriate sector for Passivhaus currently, with 74 per cent saying it was ‘very appropriate.’ Social housing received 65 per cent of votes, and only half of the respondents (51 per cent) thought that


education projects were ‘very appropriate,’ although overall a total of 86 per cent believed that Passivhaus was suited to the sector.


The other sectors, in descending order, were offices, (47 per cent ‘very appropriate’), healthcare (44 per cent ‘very appropriate’ – how appropriate? Same for rest of para), mixed use (40 per cent), hospitality (35 per cent), cultural and leisure (33 per cent). The slightly anomalous category of ‘adaptive reuse’ (which goes across many potential sectors) only had a 32 per cent score on the ‘very appropriate’ metric, and bringing up the rear was retail with 28 per cent saying it was ‘very appropriate,’ (reflecting the necessary ‘openness’ of such facilities). One survey respondent said that Passivhaus was “not very appropriate” for all building or occupation types, its suitability depending more on “exact structure, and details.” In addition, there were challenges with existing buildings such as multi-occupancies, “especially where the onus is on leaseholders of apartment blocks, offices etc.” Budgets were a concern in retail and hospitality, given recent Covid challenges, and they doubted whether government grants would “adequately cover the gaps between desire and realism.” One commenter said that Passivhaus was “a little confusing as to its overall effectiveness.” One respondent said Passivhaus “should be a legal requirement,”


while another believed that it was “a waste of resource.” Other comments included that Passivhaus buildings were hampered by a lack of adaptability, and one view that users need to have a substantial amount of “control on the building envelope,” adding “Passivhaus works best when the users are invested in the technology.”


Progress & takeup


While respondents were generally in favour of Passivhaus, they agreed that takeup had been slow in the UK. The most common reason given for this was “cost-based resistance from developers” at 70 per cent, followed by “lack of understanding” (62 per cent) and “lack of a national initiative from Government” just behind it at 61 per cent. Other reasons given were:  Developers’ resistance to change (53 per cent)


 Lack of appropriate construction skills (45 per cent)


 Client reluctance to unfamiliar design (45 per cent)


 Design challenges of meeting stringent performance (34 per cent)


 Removal of standards such as Zero Carbon Homes (33 per cent)


 Lack of early integration of services into designs (26 per cent). In terms of who’s driving uptake, the top answer was specialist bodies in the field, such as the Passivhaus Trust (63 per cent). Close behind were “enlightened individual


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ADF MAY 2021


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