How it works
Passive house relates to the way a building is heated:
- Conventional buildings need active heating by means of burning oil, gas, wood or coal, or by electricity, either directly or indirectly by heat pumps.
- Passive houses heat passively by means of energy conservation and by utilizing internal heat sources and solar gains.
The principle is like the comparison between a coffee machine and a thermos flask: both keep your coffee hot but one consumes energy and the other keeps the heat inside.
That's why a passive house has very well insulated shell and uses ventilation with heat recovery.
