Sustainable building is the way of the future. Whilst there are still climate sceptics, limited resources and climate change are necessitating sustainable practices in all parts of life, from recycling to electric cars. The building market is no different. Sustainable housing is playing an increasingly more important part of the solution.
Passivhaus design is a collection of design principles that are used to create buildings which are thermally stable, comfortable for occupants and are highly energy-efficient regardless of weather conditions. With less reliance on external energy sources to provide a comfortable living environment, passive house design provides the ultimate in sustainable living solutions.
So what are the top benefits of building a sustainable home?
- It’s more energy efficientInflation is currently the highest it’s been in Australia in a long time and the rising cost of living means families need to be smart about where they are spending their money. Sustainable homes, using passivhaus design principles of airtightness, thermal insulation and heat recovery ventilation result in them using less power to regulate temperature making them more energy efficient. The use of double or triple glazing on windows and solar panels also reduces the need to pull from the electrical grid to power a comfortable home.
- Low operating costsNot only are sustainable home less expensive because of the energy efficiencies that they have detailed above, but they are also more durable than traditional design methods.
Well designed sustainable housing include smart LED lighting, and exhaust systems, which ensure power usage only when needed and use less energy to run than traditional CFL lighting.
Using long lasting materials, systems and structures that prevent the build-up of mould and mildew, passive home design results in next to no maintenance expenses which reduces ongoing operating expenses.
- Reduced environmental footprintAustralian homes produce around 13% of our country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Using less energy to build and run than traditional building methods, sustainable building methods are the way of the future to protect our planet.
In designing sustainable homes, care can be taken to use recycled materials including recycled beams for sub-floor structures, environmentally friendly insulation and only sustainable timber products for wall and roof panels.
- Increased property valueThe lower costs of operating a passive house, both in terms of energy use and maintenance, make sustainable homes an attractive option to buyers. This increased cost of living along with the importance of caring for the environment mean that the demand for sustainable homes will be higher than traditionally built home builds in the same location. Not that you’ll ever want to move again!
- Healthier LivingThere are many aspects of a Passivhaus design that create a healthy home including:
Mould and damp has a huge negative impact on the health of occupants, and the home itself. Ventilation systems, vapour permeable membranes and WUFI modelling before construction ensure that no moisture can build up within walls and roofs, to the point that no condensation can form, and no mould or rot can form.
The use of mechanical ventilation in Passive Houses allows for greatly improved air quality inside your home. Filters can stop pollutants from outside coming in, and consistently flowing fresh air inside helps to reduce the buildup of CO2, VOCs, and viruses.
Temperature regulation. Research indicates that sleeping in low temperatures at night can have a detrimental impact on our health. The World Health Organisations recommends homes to be at or over 18 degrees Celsius for a “safe and well-balanced” indoor temperature. Passive home design keeps heat in and requires less energy to stay warm, keeping us healthier at night.
If you’d like to learn more about going sustainable for your next build, get in touch with Laros Group here.