A passive house is a building which has limited heat loss and takes advantage of natural factors in its direct environment (bio-climatic design). A passive house’s energy consumption is very low and thermal indoor comfort is ensured all year long.
| Passive buildings | Newly built houses in France | |
| Heating energy consumption | <15 kWh/m²/year | <91 kWh/m²/year (2013) |
Criteria defining passive buildings are defined by the Passive House Institute which holds the PASSIVHAUS® label.
How to make a house passive?
Although passive houses require limited heating, they still need a heating system.
Thanks to its high energy efficiency, a PopUp House can comply with the PASSIVHAUS® label.
Advantages of a passive house:
- Thermal comfort all day and all year long. Temperatures are regulated: it is always warm during the winter and there is no overheating during the summer.
- Energy savings: In France, heating is responsible for 67% of the electricity bill (2013, ADEME). In a passive house, it is possible to reduce the heating energy consumption by up to 80% compared to a non-passive new house.
To build a low-energy house, please read our recommendations about bio-climatic design. A PopUp House can easily become an energy positive building (compliant with the next French thermal regulation in 2020) if renewable energy equipment such as solar panels or wind turbines are added.
