NSBRC Masterclass: Passivhaus


ith rising energy costs and growing awareness of how our homes affect our health, Passivhaus is no longer a niche ambition. rom new builds to deep retrofi ts, this proven performance standard is helping homeowners create comfortable, future-ready homes and the earlier its considered the better the results.


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or many self-builders and home renovators, energy effi ciency begins as a goal. ncreasingly, it becomes the guiding principle behind the entire proect. Passivhaus is an internationally


recognised uality assurance standard that delivers exceptional comfort, high levels of indoor air uality and dramatically reduced energy use. Baced by more than 30 years of measured building performance, it is widely regarded as the leading low-energy building standard in the world. nlie style-led approaches, Passivhaus is about measurable outcomes. t focuses on how a building performs  not simply how it loos. he standard can be applied to almost any building type, whether you are creating a brand-new home or undertaing a deep retrofi t of an existing property. or retrofi t proects, the euivalent standard  nerPit  adapts the principles to suit existing structures, bringing them as close as practically possible to full Passivhaus performance. Given that we spend most of our lives indoors, the performance of our homes plays a critical role in our comfort, health and long-term running costs.


DESIGNING FOR PERFORMANCE FROM THE START he most successful and cost-effective Passivhaus proects begin before designs are fi nalised.


ntegrating the core principles early allows the buildings form, fabric and services to wor together seamlessly. irtightness, insulation continuity, high-


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Rather than relying solely on theory, visitors can explore real construction details


performance glaing, thermal bridge free detailing and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery  must all be carefully coordinated. hen considered late in the process, these elements can become expensive or diffi cult to implement. hen considered early, they inform intelligent design decisions that improve performance without infl ating budgets.


ncluding Passivhaus principles within a planning application can also provide clarity and reassurance both for building control and for the wider proect team. he outcomes are compelling.


FIVE REASONS TO CONSIDER PASSIVHAUS • omfort all year round  stable internal temperatures, even in extreme weather, achieved using


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