In Inchconsult, we are dedicated on low energy buildings, so in addition to the architecture and construction, we pay great attention to the “Energy Efficiency”, as a part which is crucial for your comfort and running costs, while living at home. We use software for dynamic energy analysis, through which we simulate the indoor climate and energy consumption of the desired home. In this way, even at the design stage, we can determine with high precision your future costs and indoor climate quality in the building. At the request of the client, we have the necessary expertise to design and implement a building certified as “Passive” according to the criteria of the Passive House Institute, Darmstadt, Germany.

Information about Passive buildings

Passive houses are buildings with extremely good insulation and protection from uncontrolled infiltration, whose annual energy needs for heating and cooling are so low that conventional heating systems can be missed. The small amount of energy, the building needs to provide a quality microclimate, can be supplied by ventilation systems that provide clean and oxygen-saturated fresh air while removing dirty exhaust air.

In order for a house to meet the requirements of a Passive House, it must meet the following conditions:

  • Annual space heating energy demand ≤ 15 kWh/m2 or 10W/m2 peak demand
  • Annual space cooling energy demand ≤ 15 kWh/m2 or 10W/m2 peak demand
  • Annual primary energy consumption for all electrical appliances ≤ 120 kWh/m2
  • External building envelope heat transfer coefficient U ≤ 15 W/m2K
  • Thermal bridge free building envelope
  • The air tightness of the building must be confirmed by a test according to DIN EN 13829. Under a pressure of 50 Pa (in both pressurized and depressurized states), leaks for 1 hour must not exceed 0.6 times the volume of the building.
  • Summarized heat transfer coefficient Uw of the window sash and glazing of the building must be Uw ≤ 0.8 W/m2K;
  • Ventilation system must have minimum 75% efficiency of energy recovery and energy consumption of maximum 0.45 Wh/m3;
  • The hot water systems and the installations themselves should have minimal heat losses;
  • Electrical appliances should be highly efficient;