“A passive home is a home in which a comfortable interior environment can be created without the use of traditional heating or cooling systems” (Trevor Hickey 2013).
History of Passive design:
The Passive house design concept was developed by prof. Woolgang Feist in 1988 to create a comfortable indoor environment by utilizing the sun’s energy. Residents moved into the first prototype Passivhaus building in 1991.
The Passive house design concept was developed by prof. Woolgang Feist in 1988 to create a comfortable indoor environment by utilizing the sun’s energy. Residents moved into the first prototype Passivhaus building in 1991.
In Ireland and across the rest of the northern hemisphere, the sun rises in the east and sets in west, therefore houses should be orientated to the south to maximize its solar gain. Passive Houses have a high level of comfort as the indoor air temperature will always remain between 20 and 21 degrees Celsius irrespective of the outdoor temperature.
These simple principles underpin Passive design:
- use the sun’s energy (solar gain) to heat and light the home.
- Using high levels of insulation in the floors, walls, roof, windows and doors to retain the heat.
- Creating an airtight structure to prevent heat loss through draughts.
- Using ultra-low energy designed windows.
- Utilising the heat produced by the occupants and appliances to heat the home.
- Creating a thermal-bridge-free design.
- Using A-Rated (energy efficient) appliances.
- Maximising the surroundings to provide shelter.
- Creating a ventilated indoor environment.
- rectangular in plan, allowing the sun to penetrate deep into the house.
- orientated to ensure main facades are south facing.
- large windows facing south.
- little or no windows to the north facing façade.
- commonly used rooms such as the living room and kitchen positioned on the south side of the house.
- lesser used room such as the bathroom and utility room positioned to the north side of the house.