SAFETY, SECURITY & SMART HOMES


Passivhaus comforts, ‘automatically’


Tyron Cosway of Loxone looks at the role building automation can play in maximising the comfort and liveability of low energy Passivhaus designs


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s the demand for sustainable living solutions rises, the concept of Passivhaus design has garnered significant attention aong seluilders and renovators in the UK and across Europe. Combining meticulous design standards with smart technology, ‘passive’ houses can offer unparalleled energ eficienc and coort or sel build.


However, the concept can rely heavily on the occupants to fully achieve the targets of low energy consumption, constant comfort temperatures, and overall performance of the building. This is where intelligent building automation is perfect for Passivhaus design as the sste takes te enefits o te uilding concept to the next level by seamlessly integrating the whole of the home into one sste coordinating eac eleent to work in te ost eficient wa possile – all while the owners don’t have to worry about a thing. This ensures a home is not onl energeficient ut also intelligentl responsive to its occupants’ needs.


WHAT IS A PASSIVHAUS? A Passivhaus home adheres to rigorous design standards aimed at minimising energy consumption while maintaining optimal indoor comfort. These homes utilise superior insulation ig performance windows, and strategic ventilation to achieve exceptional energ eficienc. By reducing energy demand for eating and cooling assiaus designed oes contriute significantl to environmental sustainability and have vastly lower utility costs.


HOW DOES BUILDING AUTOMATION HELP? There can be a lot of manual intervention needed when living in a Passivhaus. For example, lowering external blinds to prevent solar radiation warming a room beyond a comfortable temperature, boosting the extraction in


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when entertaining. There are many technologies added to a Passivhaus that need to be controlled, and that is why opting for a holistic building automation system would enhance the inherent enefits o a passie ouse troug intelligent and coordinated control. el uilders pursuing assiauscertified building should consider how all these technologies will need to be controlled, and how they will work together – or in te worst case ow te would conict in their operation.


the kitchen when cooking, or adjusting the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) based on CO2


levels


eluilders sould researc or a truly intelligent system that would simply take care of all this for them. There are systems on the market that would always know where the sun is in relation to each window, factor in the temperature


in each room, and then decide whether te lind on tat specific window sould be lowered or not. That way, you truly get the most out of the investment you’ve made in pursuing the Passivhaus standard. The result is a home that maintains ideal temperatures and air quality with minimal human intervention, further reducing energy consumption and improving overall comfort.


ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT One of the primary advantages of a passive house is its low environmental impact. According to the Passivhaus rust a certified new passie ouse uilt toda will result in significantl fewer lifetime emissions compared to conventional new builds. ere are an seluilders out tere that will adopt aspects of the standard, but perhaps not get the grading from the trust itself. Don’t let that put you off from


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