The Passive House is a highly energy-efficient building standard that significantly reduces a building's carbon footprint. Certified buildings require minimal energy for heating and cooling due to their superior insulation, airtightness, and thermal bridge-free design, as well as high-efficiency windows and heat recovery ventilation systems. Developed in Germany, this concept has proven to achieve energy savings of up to 90% compared to traditional buildings. By utilizing internal heat gains, passive solar energy, and a heat recovery ventilation system, Passive Houses can be passively heated while maintaining optimal indoor air quality.
In the 1980s, low-energy buildings became the standard in Sweden and Denmark. Building on this foundation, the Passive House concept was first introduced by Professor Bo Adamson and Professor Wolfgang Feist in 1988. The first Passive House was built in Darmstadt, Germany in 1991, and the Passivhaus Institute was established in 1996 to standardize and promote the concept. Through the "CEPHEUS" project, the Institute has overseen over 250 Passive House projects throughout Europe, leading to widespread adoption of the standard. Today, there are over 50,000 Passive Houses around the world, with the majority located in Germany and Austria.
ERKE is proud to have a co-founder, Ö. Dilda YAMAN, who is certified as a Passive House Designer by the Passivhaus Institute. ERKE is dedicated to sustainability and is eager to further its experience in the Passive House movement, reducing the impact on our environment.
Provision of extensive thermal insulation in the building envelope, ensuring that heat loss is minimized.
Implementation of a high-insulation window and door systems that are designed to keep heat inside the building.
Ensuring airtightness in the building envelope, which helps prevent air leaks and minimize heat loss.
Installation of a ventilation system that is highly efficient in recovering heat, making it easier for the building to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
Utilization of recyclable materials and energy integration, reducing the building's carbon footprint and promoting sustainability.
In order to adhere to the Passive House standard, it is necessary to adhere to the following five key principles:
High thermal insulation in the building envelope.
Avoidance of thermal bridges that may cause heat loss.
Airtight structure to minimize air leaks.
Windows with high heat resistance and insulation.
High-efficiency heat recovery ventilation system that incorporates natural ventilation.
The Passive House Institute has developed three different building certification classes that provide reliable guidance for those wishing to integrate renewable energies into Passive House buildings. Total demand for “renewable primary energy”:
Passive House Classic: maximum 60 kWh/(m2year),
Passive House Plus: 45 kWh/(m2year)
Passive House Premium: 30 kWh/(m2year)
In the case of Passive House Premium, at least 120 kWh/(m2year) must be produced. Heating/cooling demand for all three classes should not exceed 15 kWh/(m2year).
The design and construction of structures must adhere to the stringent standards established by the Passive House Institute (PHI) in Germany. Upon completion, these structures undergo a certification process to determine compliance with the PHI standards.
The design of PassivHaus structures requires a specialized level of technical expertise. As such, it is imperative to work with architects and engineers who have undergone Certified PassivHaus Designer Training (CEPH Training) from PHI or authorized institutions. This approach ensures the project is executed efficiently and effectively, avoiding costly and time-consuming errors. Without proper certification, even if the building appears to be designed according to PassivHaus principles, it may fail the air tightness test conducted by the PHI and be ineligible for certification.
