Passivhaus

Passivhaus is an architectural standard that was established in 1988 to reduce the heating and cooling needs of homes by 70 to 80%. In 1990, the first building with this certification was constructed, and in 1996, the Passivhaus-Institut was founded with the goal of promoting and overseeing the standard.

Currently, this concept is applied in the construction of houses that cover their daily supplementary energy needs with renewable energy, becoming a construction with very low energy costs for the owner and for the planet.

The characteristics required for these types of constructions are as follows: they possess excellent thermal insulation beneficial in any season of the year, windows and doors must have high performance to avoid air leaks, there are no thermal bridges, ventilation is mechanical with heat recovery, and the building envelope is as airtight as possible, achieving high efficiency of the mechanical ventilation system.

A clear example of this type of construction is prefabricated houses, which are characterized by the use of ecological and comfortable wood. These are very durable, cozy, and warm constructions that are fully customizable and have both thermal and acoustic energy efficiency due to the excellent quality of the materials used. These materials are always ecological, respecting the environment.

We spoke with Paula Andrés, an architect and interior designer, who tells us about her experience in this type of project.

What are the benefits of a prefabricated house compared to a non-prefabricated house?

The main advantage of a prefabricated home is the speed of construction. While a traditional construction home can take a year to build, a prefabricated home of the same size can be completed in three or four months with the same number of workers. This speed translates into a significant reduction in labor costs. Another great advantage is the regulation of interior humidity. The materials used in this type of construction facilitate vapor diffusion and prevent condensation and the appearance of dampness or stains inside homes.

How does it contribute to environmental respect?

First, the wood used in these types of constructions comes from sustainable forests, where every felled tree is reforested. The rest of the materials used in the construction of these houses are also ecological, as little energy is required for their production. Examples of these materials include insulation such as wood fiber, cork, or paints with a green seal. On the other hand, once construction is completed, these homes require very little energy to operate.

How does it achieve energy efficiency?

Several aspects influence efficiency. The main and least expensive is the design of the home itself within its location. Maximizing orientations is key to achieving an efficient building. Using high-quality windows and glass is another important point. Windows account for the greatest energy losses in the building envelope, so improving these weakest elements is crucial. Nowadays, the use of triple-pane glass with argon gas in the air gaps is very common in sustainable homes.

To what extent can energy expenditure be reduced?

An energy-efficient home can reduce energy consumption by as much as 70–80%. This means that an eco-friendly home consumes in a year what a traditional home consumes in a month.

What materials do you recommend for building this type of house?

Of course, wood is the most sustainable material. The other most suitable materials are those recommended by green building, such as wood fiber, cork, natural paints, triple glazing with argon gas, clay plasters, etc.

Are these houses “for life”?

Of course. Wood has been the material of choice for construction since the dawn of time. Other materials like concrete have only been used in the last 60-70 years, while to this day, houses with wooden structures over 200 years old are still in use.

Can wood be considered the best insulator for cold and sound?

Certainly, the technical characteristics of wood demonstrate this. Wood fiber is one of the most widely used insulators today.

Efficiency does not come at the expense of comfort. What possibilities do these types of constructions offer?

They are infinite. Sustainable construction has no limits when it comes to design.