Living in a Passive House - Does it affect my lifestyle?
"Yes, you may open your windows..."
It is a very common misconception that windows in a Passive House cannot be opened. They can indeed be opened but they don’t have to be. In a Passive House the ventilation system ensures that there is a constant controlled amount of fresh, filtered air circulated around the house so a stuffy or uncomfortable atmosphere is avoided. If the occupants would prefer to have the windows open at night, or to provide natural cross ventilation during a hot summer’s day, then it is entirely possible to open whatever windows or doors they choose. However, if there are a lot of windows or doors open, then the ventilation system should be switched off or to minimum in order to avoid an unnecessary waste of electrical energy. Occupants may find that on New Years Eve night the windows may have to be flung open to cool the house depending on how many friends and neighbours they manage to attract to join the celebrations!
Best indoor climate
Constant filtered fresh air is provided gently and well temperatured by a ventilation system with heat recovery. Unhealthy CO2 peaks do not occur; neither can moisture build up, nor mold and fungus grow in properly installed and maintained systems. 15 years of experience with tens of thousands of systems installed in different climates has backed up this fact. In winter the supplied air tends to be too dry than too moist, however a well adjusted system and plants in the dwelling can balance this out. In addition indoor odours, such as those from cooking, are quickly taken out of the house. A very welcome side effect is that dust does not accumulate as fast - the filters will show how much dust and dirt has been taken out of the external and internal air.
Good manufacturers also offer pollen or micro-dust filters in addition to their normal range of filters. All filters need to be checked every 3 to 6 months and changed regularly. This is one of the most important life style changes, which requires a certain sense of responsibility. If filters are not changed for a long time, these can clog up and reduce the ventilation rate or even disable the ventilation system. For social housing, filter checks and changes should be organised centrally, e.g. through a janitor.
Quality that you can see, feel and measure
Passive Houses have a very high technical specification and superior quality build, creating a very solid, well-built house that will last the test of time. The heavy doors and windows close with a reassuringly solid ‘clunk’, keep out draughts and reduce external noise. The walls are thick and substantial and are packed full of thick insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in, and the triple-glazed windows ensure that there is no condensation on the internal glazing on a cold morning.
The extremely high grade of insulation in walls and windows allows for larger glazing sizes, primarily facing the south. The result of this is open spaces that are saturated with light, without the chill factor next to the windows and patio doors. You can often see children playing next to the windows while it is cold and windy outside.
It will become a life style
Living in a Passive House encourages a greater interest and awareness of weather patterns and the impact they have (or don’t have) on indoor climate. The passing by of cloud cover brings with it instant brightness and rising temperatures on the display panel for the solar collectors. Extremely cold clear weather usually means that the back-up heating is not required during the day due to the high levels of solar irradiation available, whilst on dull muggy days, though not especially cold, the backup heating, e.g. a pellet stove may well require due to the lack of sunlight.
Living in a house that has a low carbon footprint can encourage other lifestyle changes that are positive for the environment, including growing your own food and reducing the impact of travel whether by car or by plane. Raising children in a Passive House will also bring about positive change for the next generation as they will expect to improve even further on what their parents achieved. Perhaps the overall lifestyle benefit of living in a passive house is that it provides very high levels of overall comfort, without compromising the environment, at a fraction of the cost of living in a so-called ‘normal’ house.
