22/07/22 | passivhaus course
Harry went on an intensive Passivhaus course last month and fair to say he learnt a LOT!
It’s very relevant for both the intense heat we’re having and the energy crisis that will worsen this winter with people struggling to warm their homes.
Passivhaus minimises all heat loss by measuring almost everywhere it might escape, making sure the inside stays warm.
High levels of insulation also mean you can keep the intense heat out of the building in a heatwave, win win!
Passivhaus measures the Solar gains, ensuring there’s a good amount in Winter but not too much in Summer. This includes careful thought on orientation, where to put windows, well designed external shading and more, so the sun doesn’t overheat the inside.
An MVHR is also a great way of getting fresh air, as it filters the air as it comes in and reliably gets rid of stale air. A summer bypass means the air isn’t heated when coming in, another way to avoid overheating.
Some quick Myth Busting: You can open windows and doors in Passivhaus, which always helps at night to combat overheating. 😊
Passivhaus relies on the Design and construction quality of buildings rather than technology, so all energy use is minimised.
The photo is Harry trying out some window air tightness taping on the course, it’s tricky!