by Tim Willmott : Comments Off on International Passive House Association
The Passivhaus standard originated from a conversation in May 1988 between Professors Bo Adamson of Lund University, Sweden, and Wolfgang Feist of the Institut für Wohnen und Umwelt (Institute for Housing and the Environment, Germany). Their concept was developed through a number of research projects, aided by financial assistance from the German state of Hessen. (wikipedia)
The International Passive House Association contains a vast array of information on all aspects of Passive House building, including the passipedia wiki and a Passive House database.
Of all the low energy buildings, the Passive House has the longest pedigree and greatest ambition. Not just to cut carbon but also to consciously reduce the ecological footprint of the building. This is done by adopting a radical approach to building design that includes and incorporates passive solar design and landscape, superinsulation, advanced window technology and airtightness; and rigorous implementation of appropriate ventilation, space heating, lighting and electrical appliance design.
There are about 20,000 passive houses, mostly in Scandanavia and Germany (with a hotspot in Frankfurt), but more are being built across the globe, and Passive Houses have been built in the tropics, including a scheme in Qatar. Although still mainly used in domestic buildings, more commercial buildings are using the Passive House standard.
The Passive House is not strictly a zero carbon building, with an allowed energy demand of 120kWh/m² per year against the 0kWh/m² for a zero carbon building, and the negative rating of a Carbon Plus house. But it’s pretty impressive for all that.
Passive Houses must conform to a voluntary building standard.
There are also many national Passive House organisations, including:
International Passive House Association (iPHA)
Rheinstraße 44 | 46
D-64283 Darmstadt
loading map - please wait...
Related articles
Article by Tim Willmott
Tim is the creator of sustainapedia.com and heads digital publisher Treading Lightly. His interests include nature and wild places, cooking, film, sport and music. He is a poet, writer and commentator.
Comments are closed