The Five Key Principles of a Passive House
Passive House standards are achieved by adhering to five core design principles:
A highly insulated building envelope minimizes heat transfer, ensuring consistent internal temperatures.
Sealing all leaks and gaps in the building envelope prevents air and moisture loss, enhancing comfort and air quality.
High-Performance Windows & Doors:
Triple-pane, high-efficiency windows and doors are strategically placed to optimize solar gain in winter and minimize heat loss.
Continuous insulation and careful design eliminate "thermal bridges"—areas where heat can easily escape or enter the building.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery:
A ventilation system provides continuous, filtered fresh air while recovering heat from exhaust air to pre-warm incoming fresh air, reducing energy needs for heating.
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Benefits
Exceptional Comfort: Constant desired temperatures with no drafts or uneven surfaces.
Healthy Indoor Air Quality: Continuous, filtered fresh air reduces airborne pollutants.
Energy Savings: Up to 90% less energy is used compared to typical buildings.
Reduced Energy Costs: Lower heating and cooling bills lead to long-term savings.
Quieter Interiors: The airtight and well-insulated structure provides superior acoustic insulation.
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Performance Standards
The Passive House standard is performance-based, meaning it sets specific targets for a building's energy performance. For example, the international standard limits:
Space heat demand: Maximum 15 kWh/m² per year.
Airtightness: Maximum 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50).
Total Primary Energy Demand: Maximum 120 kWh/m² per year.
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Design then Build
Let’s bring your dreams of comfort, improved air quality, and a calming quiet to life in your home with beautiful, sustainable, and smart materials. Let’s make a difference by designing smarter, using tested products, and building better into the future with qualified Passive House certified builders. Learn more about Passive House on Emu’s FAQ page.
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Passive House Fundamentals
To read more about Passive House, click below:
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Code Adoption
Building codes around the country are implementing Passive House. The Passive House pathway is currently making its way through the the California Legislature.
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Fire Resilience
Better protect your building and learn how to build back after a climate disaster.
