Benefits of Passive House
Energywise houses have many environmental, economical and social benefits. They are also beneficial for the inhabitants in many ways. Compared to the other energywise building variants Passive house is the optimal solution in terms of life cycle costs. Since the energy demand of a passive house is extremely low, it is also the most beneficial solution for the environment. Read more about the benefits of Passive Houses in this section.
1. Environmental benefits
- Sustainability: According to the EU Commission it will cost 50 - 400 % more to produce an extra kilowatt of electricity than to save it.
- Reduced CO2 emissions: An average household is responsible for 6,000 kg of CO2 emissions a year. Living in a passive house the same household emits only 2,100kg of CO2 a year.
- Noise protection: Thick and well-insulated structures provide also effective sound insulation → Quiet rooms also in a noisy environment (traffic, industry, etc.)
2. Economical benefits
- Moderate Life Cycle Costs: moderate additional investment costs
- Reduced maintenance costs: : Energywise construction pays off itself from the very first day. An energywise building gathers space heating savings at least 75 % a year.
- Energy performance certificates: Owner selling real estate will order energy performance certificate to demonstrate the value of his property → Safe investments
- Stable value: An energywise building may achieve re-sale price up to 30 % higher in comparison with standard buildings.
- Freedom in design: No expensive demands or limits for the designing and architecture. Individual architecture is standard.
- Less technical appliances: No separate heating system is needed. Required heating demand can be covered by a cost efficient ventilation heat recovery system.
3. Social benefits
- Domestic creation of value and jobs: 75% of the increased costs will go to local builders. The remaining 25 % goes to purchase materials predominantly of regional origin. That creates jobs - it even "pays off".
- Independence of imports: Most oil reserves of the world are in a few countries. This makes the safe and cheap energy supply sensitive to even small technical or political disturbances.
4. Benefits for inhabitants
- Thermal comfort (also in the summer): There are no drafts or cold feet in an energywise building since it has been carefully insulated, the joints are sealed and the cold bridges minimized.
- Better quality of indoor air: Fresh air is delivered continuously, minimizing indoor air pollution.
- Comfort of handling: Less technical appliances: required heating demand can be covered by a simple ventilation heating system.