The first passive houses appeared in the 1970s. They consume very little energy for heating and occupants enjoy a pleasant room temperature all year round. This type of habitat is always south-facing to take maximum advantage of the warming sun.
An expensive concept at the beginning but many advantages
The first passive house was built in Germany in the 1970s before spreading to other European countries. This type of construction is attractive even if it costs on average 20% more than traditional construction. Indeed, this type of home offers an unparalleled comfort of life because the ambient temperature is stable all year round, whether it is hot or cold outside. The air quality of a passive house is very healthy because it is continuously filtered and renewed to provide occupants with an ideal living environment. The passive house is always designed in a simple architectural style with openings that make it possible to take maximum advantage of the sun and daylight to save maximum energy. Triple glazing, insulation, waterproofing, high-performance ventilation system are the basic principles for this type of construction.
The need to build ecological habitats
Despite significantly higher construction costs, more and more individuals are choosing to build a passive or positive house. Indeed, if we want to leave future generations a healthy planet, we must opt for the construction of less polluting and energy-consuming habitats. Admittedly, the problem is often financial, but the return on investment for the construction of a passive or bioclimatic house is made over a maximum of ten years depending on the additional cost generated by the construction of an ecological house. After this period, the passive house is very profitable because the energy bill is almost zero.
Difference between a passive house and a positive house
If the passive house is characterized by the optimal use of sunlight, the positive house will generate energy, i.e. it will produce more energy than it consumes. The positive house has become the new challenge for housing designers. Indeed, a positive energy building will also be equipped with technologies that allow it to generate energy surpluses compared to its own consumption. All the components of the house, such as the roof and walls, will be energy collectors that will be used to optimize the energy production of the home.