About Passive Houses

Learn about passive houses and what makes ours the best

What Makes a Passive House?

According to the Passive House Institute

The Four Requirements

This means...

We ensure this through...

1. The Space Heating Energy Demand

Specific space heating demand ≤ 15 kWh/m²/year
Peak heat load <10 W/m²

This means the central heating system for a three-bedroom 100m2 house only needs to be as powerful as a toaster

We use a highly insulated foundation, walls, roof and windows with minimal cold bridges, and heat recovery ventilation

2. The Renewable Primary Energy Demand

Primary energy Specific primary energy demand ≤ 120 kWh/(m²a)

This means the total annual energy a building uses is weighted by the environmental impact and efficiency of the energy sources supplying it

Solar panels or a heat pump fulfill this requirement in our houses

3. Airtightness

Max 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals

This means air leakage must be low so heat is not lost through drafts or cracks

We use an age-proof vapour barrier and high-quality tapes to ensure airtightness, and wall are made windproof in our factory

4. Thermal Comfort

No more than 10% of hours in a year should exceed 25C

This means the house does not overheat in the Summer, when this is a potential risk

We mindfully plan the size, orientation, and placement of windows to limit excessive solar gains and reduce any risk of overheating

Scandinavian Homes has built low energy houses since 1991 and has met the Passive House Requirements since 2005

Why Passive Houses?

About 25% of the world’s energy is spent on heating and cooling homes and commercial buildings. This percentage could be dramatically reduced through passive construction.

Our ethics are clear: to build efficient, thermally comfortable homes while saving you money.