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Passive House
The Passive House is the building concept of the future, which becomes more and more important. No active heating system is necessary, therefore it considerably reduces energy costs and, above all, offers you comfort during winter and summer times.
These are houses without active heating system! Comfortable temperature, perfect interior climate, and a great sensation of living are guaranteed. Everyone who is thinking of building a house should not miss the opportunity of this new lifestyle.

The most important criteria for passive houses are:

1. Sufficient wall, roof, and floor insulation
2. no thermal bridges
3. Air tightness
4. comfort ventilation

More:
Maximum annual heat consumption is less than ≤ 15 kWh/(m²a) - that corresponds to approx. 1.5 lt. fuel/m² living space a year.

The standard of the passive house heat consumption of 15 kWh/m2a is a result of the basic economic consideration that the installation of the separate heating system is unnecessary, due to the existing air supply system, which transports the required heat. The insignificant heat loss through ventilation is almost completely compensated by free „passive“energy contribution.

Passive energy contribution:
  • insolation coming through windows and other transparent surfaces
  • heat emission through from lightning and other electrical devices
  • body heat from people staying in the building

Comfort ventilation:
Its aim is keep the pollution burden and the noxious influences as low as possible.
  • 30 m³ fresh air per hour is necessary for every person with normal activity.
  • Comfort ventilation fulfils the above requirement, providing you with clean unobjectionable air in every room. The heat exchanger helps also to save energy.
  • Reduces the amount of dust coming from the outside the building.
  • no pollen for allergic people
  • Smells and cigarette smoke are exhausted and cannot spread themselves round the house
  • no drafts
                  
If all criteria (wall, roof and floor insulation, no thermal bridges, air tightness, comfort ventilation) are fulfilled, a separate heating system is not necessary.

Wall, roof and floor insulation:
The example shows a house with a cellar, where the cellar is not permanently occupied.
  • Perimeter insulation with 16 cm Austrotherm XPS® boards
  • Cellar floor with 25 cm Austrotherm EPS® W20 insulation boards
  • Wall insulation with 25 cm Austrotherm EPS® F PLUS, the grey insulation board. In comparison to conventional polystyrene boards, the EPS® F PLUS increases thermal insulation by 15%.
The ideal roof insulation material should be 30 cm thick; this can be achieved either with Austrotherm EPS® KLEMMFIX (insulation between rafters) inside or with Austrotherm EPS® Aufsparrendämmung (insulation above rafters) outside.

The window joining:
For optimal joining at windows and doors the Austrotherm Architectural Elements should be used. The results are prevention thermal bridges and increased amount of incident light by 15 per cent. Another advantage is excellent window architecture with big variety of designs. Get more information about the Austrotherm Architectural Elements.



Additonal Information is available at:
detailed information about energy saving construction
web site of the German Passive House Institute, Dr. Feist
numerous projects in Austria, companies with experience in passive houses
The European Commission’s project which promotes passive houses
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