As the UK races towards Net Zero, energy efficiency is top of the agenda. Now imagine a home that’s so energy efficient you have virtually no heating bills. With passive house technology, that dream home is no longer a fantasy. And with so many benefits on offer, passive house construction is set to be the next big trend. Here’s why passive house builders are in demand.
What is a passive house?
A passive home captures the sun’s energy and uses it for heat, eliminating the need for any other conventional type of heating system. In addition, by making the best use of airtight construction, superior levels of insulation and carefully controlled ventilation, a passive house stays comfortable all year round.
What are the benefits of building a passive house?
So could a passive house be your next home? Here are the benefits of this type of construction:
Energy efficiency
A passive house uses no more than 120 kWh/m2 per year. Let’s put that into perspective: the average UK home uses 3100 kWh of electricity over the same period.
Obviously, higher levels of energy efficiency translate into lower bills, and passive house builders could be vital in reducing fuel poverty and leading the way to a Net Zero future. Passive homes that perform at their optimum have the potential to reduce your energy bills to almost zero.
Air quality
Most conventional homes suffer from poor air quality because they’re not airtight. So any off-gassing furniture or pollution-spewing traffic can mean poor-quality air circulates throughout your home.
On the other hand, a passive house uses a highly-efficient ventilation system to circulate purified air, filtering out pollen which is an additional benefit for allergy sufferers. In addition, another advantage of airtightness is that less dust and debris enters your home, so you spend less time cleaning.
Comfort
Comfort is so integral to passive house philosophy that there’s even a comfort equation. In practice, this means that passive houses are designed to be thermal bridge free, so there are no cold spots or drafts.
Instead, high-performance glazing and insulation combine to create a home that’s extremely quiet, odour-free, and maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the year.
Environmental impact
Passive house builders work to the passive house performance standards, allowing you to specify eco-friendly and sustainable construction materials for your home. This means you could use only recycled timber or insulation. In addition, the passive house building standards encourage builders to keep materials local to reduce the environmental impact.
The fact that a passive house relies on the sun rather than fossil fuels for energy means that you’re protecting the environment and its precious resources for future generations.
Affordability
It’s clear that, in terms of energy usage, a passive house can help you make significant savings. But the combination of high-quality recycled building materials, and the savings you make on a home heating system, also contribute to passive house affordability.
Versatility
The good news for passive house builders is that the standards are suitable for all kinds of buildings, both residential and commercial, worldwide. It’s nearly three decades since the first passive house was built in Germany. Today the same standards are now being applied to schools, offices and factories.
Future-proofing your home with DJ Reynolds
If your dream home is cosy and comfortable in all weathers, with no draughts and significant energy savings, then passive house builders, DJ Reynolds, can make it happen.
Whether you’re building new or retrofitting to meet the passive house standards, our expert builders specialise in providing net-zero friendly, low energy solutions from the ground up. To find out more, contact us for your quote today.
