When planning a new home’s construction, many homeowners opt for passive house design. This method of building is a great way to make your home more energy efficient by lowering energy needs for heating and air conditioning. Below, we will discuss the principles of passive home construction and why it might be something to consider for your build.

What is a Passive Home?

A passive home is designed with the local climate in mind. By making sure the home is nearly airtight, and built with high-quality insulation methods, you can reduce the overall use of thermal control. In short, passive home design will help families use less energy to keep their homes cold or warm as seasons change.

Main Principles of Passive Design

There are five main building principles in passive home design. Each one helps mitigate energy use and keep the home more comfortable, no matter the season.

Continuous Insulation

Firstly, continuous insulation. Superior insulation keeps a home comfortable, no matter what the temperature is outside.

Airflow Control

Next, passive homes are more airtight than most other houses. This helps prevent the loss of conditioned air or heat. In tandem with the insulation, this reduces a lot of energy loss from heat and AC.

Radiation Control

Solar radiation is an important aspect of our next principle. High-performance windows help use the sun’s heat energy during the cold seasons. They also offer strong UV resistance during warmer months to minimize extreme air conditioning use.

Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is the next principle. Controllable ventilation helps eliminate drafts while controlling the humidity and moisture levels within the home. Vapor and humidity control in a home can be important to maintaining good air quality in the home. It also helps reduce the risk of developing mold or mildew in the house.

Compact Design

The last principle is compact design. By making homes have comfortable but more compact areas, you minimize energy use and save space. This does not mean rooms are smaller necessarily, but rather less open. Having individualized rooms, and more compact shapes of rooms helps lessen energy use. L-shaped rooms and open-concept living spaces are less energy efficient than square or rectangular rooms, for example.

Why is Passive Design Important?

Passive design helps homeowners save money over time. Less energy use and more efficient energy consumption can make it easier to lower the cost of your bills. In tandem with renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, passive homes can much more easily use net zero energy; or close to it.

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