What are the main differences between a passive house and a traditional house?

By Louise Desmet & Serafine Dierickx

What is a passive house?

Built for ecological and sustainable reasons

For the heating yearly 15kWh/m2 or less necessary

8 times less than a normal house

What is the difference between traditional houses and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better isolation

In a passive house there more attention is paid to cracks and crevices

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat

recovery

What is the difference between traditional houses and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better isolation

In a passive house there is paid more attention to cracks and crevices

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat

recovery

A passive house reduces heat losses by better insulation

PASSIVE HOUSE TRADITIONAL HOUSE

• Better isolation

• Only solar heating required

• Aren’t isolated according to the climate

What is the difference between traditional houses and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat

recovery

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness of the building

PASSIVE HOUSE TRADITIONAL HOUSE

• Air tightness

• No heat losses By using tape or film

• Not a lot of attention to cracks and crevives

• Heat losses

What is the difference between traditional houses and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat

recovery

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

PASSIVE HOUSE TRADITIONAL HOUSE

• Warmth from the sun

• Superisolating glass

• Good placed awning to prevent overheating

• Warmth from electrity or gass

• Singular or double glass

• /

What is the difference between traditional houses and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat

recovery

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat recovery

PASSIVE HOUSE TRADITIONAL HOUSE

• Ventilation mechanicaly controlled

• In winter this way the air is preheated

• In the summer the system blows the cooled air from the soil pipe directly into the home

• Airconditioning if installed

• /

• /

Is it possible to turn a traditional house into a passive one?

Energy efficient heating Compare different prices of energy heating

Isolation Warmth scan Isolation roof, glass and walls

Purchase a high efficiency boiler Solar water heating

Ventilate Open your window and save energy

Don’t be ignorant Avoid laziness Think about alternatives

The cost of a traditional house

The cost of a passive house

The (dis)advantages of a passive house

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

+ No heating costs

+ Low emission of CO2

+ Fresh air

+ Soundproof

+ High value (real estate)

- Higher construction costs-> Because of better isolation, another balance,…

- Craftsmanship needed

Conclusion

Passive houses cost more to built but at the end you regain your costs and it’s more ecological

Sources

http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/multimedia/003/ http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PassiveHouseInfo.html http://www.motherearthnews.com/Energy-Matters/Passive-House-Intro.aspx http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/index.php?col=welkom&doc=passiefhuis&lng=

nl http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/index.php?col=-welkom&doc=faq&lng=nl http://www.passive-house.co.uk/passive_house.htm http

://www.leefmilieubrussel.be/uploadedFiles/Contenu_du_site/Professionnels/Formations_et_séminaires/Formation_matériaux_de_construction_(actes)/05-05-2009_EN-FutureProofedConsultance-SergeDeGeldere-PrincipeDuCradleToCradle-analyseDexemples.pdf

http://www.materialsday.be/Documents/Materialsday09_sergedegheldere_light.pdf

http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/energie/pdf/Natuurcentrum%20Bourgoyen%20Gent.pdf

http://www.hoedoe.nl/natuur-milieu/milieu/energiebesparing/hoe-maak-ik-mijn-huis-energiezuinig