Comfort

Passive Houses may be known for their drastically lower energy use and associated energy costs, but it is the level of comfort they offer that their residents appreciate most. An extremely well insulated building envelope as well as triple glazed windows* and insulated frames keep the desired warmth or lack thereof inside. This means that the floor and all interior walls stay at the same pleasant temperature.

Even the fresh air supplied to Passive Houses is brought to a pleasant temperature before it enters the house. A highly efficient heat recovery system is capable of transferring more than 75% of the perceivable warmth from the used, exhaust air to the fresh, incoming supply air. In this way, for example, 20°C exhaust air can bring the cold supply air on a 0°C day to at least 16°C, without the use of active heating. When it is too hot outside, warm ambient air can be cooled before it enters the home in much the same way.

The ventilation systems in Passive Houses consistently supply fresh air, making for superior indoor air quality. The air in a Passive House never gets stale or stuffy as it does in typical homes when the windows are left unopened. The ventilation systems found in Passive Houses provide plentiful fresh, pollen-free and dust-free air. This maximises comfort for all, especially for those with allergies or respiratory problems.

The pleasant temperatures within Passive Houses and the quality ventilation they offer prevent moisture build up, putting a stop to both the condensation that commonly forms along window frames and mould growth.**

*climate dependent

** warm, humid climates may benefit from an extra dehumidification system for this purpose