Construction of passive houses.

Important criteria for the construction of passive houses.

As we mentioned in the description of the features of a passive house, the construction of such a house should take into account certain criteria at every stage of the investment. Starting with the selection of a building plot, the location and body of such a building, and ending with such invisible details as e.g. window installation method. Failure to take care of each stage of construction works or an unconscious mistake made at any stage of implementation may contribute to this, that the building will not even meet the assumptions of a passive or low-energy house. It should too, remember that, that achieving the lowest heat transfer parameter for the walls of the building (basic parameter for energy-saving construction), with poorly designed or executed room ventilation (e.g. incorrect installation of the recuperator) may cause more harm than benefit. An important and often overlooked aspect of such buildings is well-designed and executed substitute heating (e.g. fireplace installation), which should not in any way interfere with the passive heating of the house and water.

For example, let's get acquainted with the basic criteria for the selection of a plot and a project for the implementation of a passive or low-energy house.

Criteria for choosing a plot:

• preferred southern slope of the plot,
• the plot allows the location of the building in such a way, so that the facade of the building and the glazed surfaces are on the south side (± 30°),
• no undesirable shading by elements of neighboring buildings, which enables the passive use of solar energy,
• vegetation that does not cause undesirable shading, also in the future,
• plot allows for the implementation of compact development – terraced and multi-storey buildings are preferred,

Criteria for project selection:

• whether a compact body of the building was used, enabling the connection of buildings or subsequent additions?
• the house should be two-story,
• a flat or slightly pitched roof,
• the most glazed surfaces should face south. East windows, the north and west should be relatively small,
• simple construction of external partitions (possibly without temptations, bends etc.)
• when planning projections, installation grouping zones should be included (e.g. bathrooms above or next to the kitchen),
• whether the design includes the necessary ventilation ducts?
• kitchen on the east side,
• utility room, wardrobes and laundry rooms with windows – east or west side,
• garage – north side (minimum number of windows),
• avoid designs of houses with an extended body with arcades, bay windows, dormers and balconies (these are building elements that create thermal bridges),
• or a house with a basement? if so, Has the basement floor been separated?, in a way that ensures air tightness and no thermal bridges?
• Building Materials,
• construction materials,
• heat transfer parameters for windows and other joinery,
• elements of the heating system used (heat pump / solar panels / heat exchangers / e.t.c.),
• what kind of installations are these (e.g. horizontal ground heat exchanger)?
• whether the project takes into account the available subsidies, relief etc.?
• selection of the heating medium (Gaz / heating oil / Electricity / Firewood / Other),
• whether the characteristics of a given heating medium are taken into account (boiler room, connections, fuel composition)?

As we can see on the example of complex criteria, it is best when we can entrust the entire investment, starting from the design to comprehensive implementation by one contractor.