Explanation of Passivhaus Plus and Passivhaus Premium: An Authority Clarifies the Implications for the Future of Architectural Design
In the picturesque county of Bedfordshire, a Passivhaus Plus project by Eco Design Consultants, Carrstone House, encountered a network limit of 25kWP for solar PV installation. Despite this hurdle, the project underscores the potential of solar PV in achieving Passivhaus Plus or Premium standards, regardless of the roof type.
The Passivhaus Plus and Premium standards go beyond the traditional Passive House energy efficiency criteria by incorporating requirements for renewable energy generation and further reduction of primary energy use in buildings.
Passivhaus Plus and Passivhaus Premium
Passivhaus Plus requires a building to meet the classic Passive House standard for energy efficiency through rigorous airtightness, thermal bridge-free construction, high-quality windows, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Additionally, it demands the building significantly reduce primary energy consumption by integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to cover part of the building’s energy demand.
Passivhaus Premium, on the other hand, includes all requirements of Passivhaus Plus. It demands an even higher generation of renewable energy onsite, making the building increasingly independent from primary fossil fuels. This standard pushes the limits of sustainability by balancing minimized energy demand with maximum renewable supply, aiming for near net-zero or net-positive energy performance.
Benefits of Passivhaus Plus and Premium
Both standards offer numerous benefits. They ensure ultra-low energy consumption for heating, cooling, and overall building operation, reducing dependency on external energy and lowering energy bills. Certified Passive Houses, including Plus and Premium, maintain excellent indoor air quality and comfort year-round through balanced mechanical ventilation systems, coupled with airtight and well-insulated building envelopes.
By requiring renewable energy integration, these standards substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with building operations, advancing climate-friendly construction goals. Certification provides verified quality assurance that all design elements are jointly optimized for performance, verified by accredited certifiers early in the design process, minimizing building performance risks.
The standards also factor in products' lifecycle costs and cost-optimal energy performance, contributing to lower overall operational costs across the building’s expected lifespan.
Comparison of Passivhaus Plus and Premium
| Aspect | Passivhaus Plus | Passivhaus Premium | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Base Standard | Passivhaus Classic (energy efficiency) | Passivhaus Plus | | Renewable Energy | Significant onsite generation | Higher onsite renewable energy generation | | Primary Energy Use | Reduced primary (non-renewable) energy | Further reduced, near net-zero or net-positive | | Focus | Energy efficiency + renewable supply | Max energy efficiency + maximal renewables | | Benefits | Lower energy bills, healthy indoor air | Even greater energy independence and lower emissions |
In conclusion, achieving Passivhaus Plus or Premium certification requires comprehensive energy-efficient design plus renewable energy production, resulting in homes with minimal environmental impact, lower energy costs, and superior indoor environmental quality. The price of solar PV technology and other related technologies has significantly decreased in recent years, making these standards more accessible for homeowners and builders.
It is essential to assess the local infrastructure, including the district network, before exporting excess electricity to the grid. The cost uplift from Passivhaus Classic to Passivhaus Plus may not be substantial if a solar PV roof is already being planned. The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software is essential for modeling the design of a building in advance.
The most likely renewable energy source used is solar PV due to its less obtrusive nature and widespread availability of roof space. To achieve either Passivhaus Plus or Premium, the Passivhaus ventilation requirements must be met first. EnerPHit retrofit projects, like Harpenden EnerPHit by AD Practice, can also aim for Passivhaus Plus or Premium standards and can include an air source heat pump and solar PV panels.
Everything is gradually transitioning to electric, including solar PV roofs. As the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy become more apparent, we can expect to see more Passivhaus Plus and Premium projects in the future.
- To achieve Passivhaus Plus or Premium, a building must meet the Passive House standard for energy efficiency and significantly reduce primary energy consumption by integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels.
- Passivhaus Premium demands an even higher onsite renewable energy generation compared to Passivhaus Plus, making the building increasingly independent from primary fossil fuels.
- Both Passivhaus Plus and Premium offer benefits such as ultra-low energy consumption, excellent indoor air quality, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with building operations.
- The Passivhaus Plus and Premium standards require that design elements are jointly optimized for performance, early in the design process, and verified by accredited certifiers.
- The cost uplift from Passivhaus Classic to Passivhaus Plus may not be substantial if a solar PV roof is already being planned.
- Before exporting excess electricity to the grid, it is essential to assess the local infrastructure, including the district network.
- The Passivhaus ventilation requirements must be met first to achieve either Passivhaus Plus or Premium.
- In home renovation projects, EnerPHit retrofit like Harpenden EnerPHit by AD Practice can aim for Passivhaus Plus or Premium standards and include an air source heat pump and solar PV panels.
- Everything is gradually transitioning to electric, including solar PV roofs, as the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy become more apparent.
- With the decreasing price of solar PV technology and other related technologies, we can expect to see more Passivhaus Plus and Premium projects in the field of home-and-garden, sustainable-living, environmental-science, climate-change, and lifestyle.
