PHW 002 - Passivhaus at a Glance
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Today you'll discover how to decode the Passivhaus building standard - no complicated formulas, just plain English!
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Passivhaus at a Glance
You already know great building. Add Passivhaus principles and watch your projects transform. Simple science, proven results, happy clients
Your Building Standard Decoded in One Page
Last time, we shared with you the Passivhaus standard document. I get it – 100+ pages feels like climbing Everest in flip-flops.
Here's the truth: that massive document is for professionals working 24/7 in building physics. You don't need all that detail to understand what makes Passivhaus revolutionary.
The World's Smartest Building Standard, Simplified
Passivhaus is the most recognized international energy efficiency standard. Full stop.
It works in any climate, any location, anywhere on Earth. From Darwin's humidity to Hobart's winters. From Swedish ice hotels to Saudi Arabian desert homes.
The genius? Its simplicity and flexibility.
Look at that one-page PDF I've attached. Everything you need to know about Passivhaus – on a single sheet. Let me decode what you're actually seeing.
Your Body Already Knows Passivhaus
Here's something fascinating: your core body temperature is 36-37°C whether you live in tropical Darwin or chilly Hobart. That's human biology.
This is why everyone feels comfortable somewhere between 20-25°C indoors – we all have our sweet spot within that range, and Passivhaus delivers it.
Building physics confirms what your body already knows. Passivhaus simply builds around human comfort, not arbitrary numbers.
The Health Revolution Hidden in Plain Sight
Passivhaus defines:
• Fresh air exchange rates – so you breathe clean air, not yesterday's cooking smells
• Relative humidity levels – no mould growth, no dry itchy skin
• Surface temperatures – no cold walls sucking heat from your body
Every Passivhaus building delivers the same thing: a healthy space where humans thrive.
This is why forward-thinking businesses are racing to Passivhaus. Their office buildings see productivity jump while operational costs plummet. Higher yield per employee, lower running costs, more profit – even with the same turnover.
Hotels report happier guests. Hospitals see faster recovery times. Schools watch concentration improve.
And your home? That's where you spend over 50% of your life.
The Magic Numbers That Work Everywhere
That technical-looking page shows the boundaries that make comfort achievable:
Energy for heating OR cooling: Maximum 15 kWh/m²/year (That's like running a hairdryer for 10 hours per square meter annually)
Total renewable energy: Maximum 60 kWh/m²/year (Everything – lights, appliances, hot water, the lot)
Here's what blows people's minds: a 150m² home in Siberia uses the same energy as one in the Sahara. One needs heating, the other cooling. Same consumption per square meter.
How? Simple – you adjust the building envelope to match the climate.
Harsher climates get thicker build-ups, milder climates get thinner ones. The envelope changes, but the energy target stays rock solid.
Think about that. Same energy bills whether you're battling blizzards or heatwaves. The building does the heavy lifting, not your heating or cooling system.
Your Secret Weapon: The PHPP
The crown jewel isn't the standard itself – it's the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP).This tool shows you instantly:
• Exactly how much energy your design will use
• Your precise running costs before you build
• The most economical solutions for YOUR project
PHPP gives you facts and figures to make informed decisions. It optimizes your design for your client's budget. Building physics calculations that once took weeks now happen in minutes.
You can use PHPP on any building, not just Passivhaus projects. It's like having x-ray vision for building performance.
Why This One Page Changes Everything
That single page represents 30+ years of building science refinement. It's been proven in over 75,000 buildings worldwide.
Every definition on that page exists for one reason: creating buildings where humans thrive without destroying the planet.
The technical details might look intimidating. But they're just the recipe. You don't need to understand yeast chemistry to bake great bread – you just need the right ingredients and method.
Your Next Step Forward
You now understand what thousands of building professionals worldwide have discovered: Passivhaus isn't complicated. It's comprehensive.
There's a difference.
Complicated means confusing. Comprehensive means complete. Passivhaus gives you everything needed for success – nothing more, nothing less.
Next, we'll discover how Passivhaus costs just a coffee a day in year one. Yes, you read that right – the world's best building standard for the price of your daily flat white.
Ready to master that one-page standard? Get the basics right and start implementing today!
Because once you understand that single page, you understand the future of building.
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P.S. Still skeptical about costs? Next week's article will show you the maths. Spoiler: your morning coffee habit costs more than Passivhaus comfort.
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Valuable Insights from Our Community
This is a living document that our community is building and improving together. Your expertise and experience make it stronger.
Wolfgang Feist, founder of the Passivhaus Institute, shared this encouraging insight:
"This is great, Daniel! 'Passivhaus at a Glance' with all the basic information in a short article. Maybe one topic to add: Every experienced architect can design a passive house - the know-how is easy to approach (Yes, you need some know-how; but it's less difficult than a lot of people think.)"
Wolfgang's feedback highlights exactly what we've seen across thousands of projects - you already have most of the skills you need. Passivhaus isn't about starting from scratch. It's about adding precision to your existing expertise.
We couldn't agree more with Wolfgang's point. Passivhaus takes the guesswork out of building performance. The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is like having a master physicist checking your work in real-time. You design, PHPP validates, clients get certainty. That's why it's the best feedback tool for any designer pursuing excellence.
Think of PHPP as your building's truth detector. No more "it should work" - you'll know it works before breaking ground.
Remember: You've got this. Passivhaus isn't complicated - it's just good building science made simple.
