A few words about passive architecture
Historical outline
At the end of the 1980s, a group of scientists with the support of the European Commission gathered to reflect on the issue of the energy demand on our continent. Their conclusion was clear - the construction industry (along with the subsequent use of facilities) is the most energy-intensive economic sector. In Poland, this sector consumes around 45% of the total energy production.
German architects designed a house that reduces by 90% the energy necessary for heating. It was the first passive building - a small multi-family house built in 1991 in Darmstadt. After 29 years of use, its energy efficiency has not changed. It still provides high comfort of use to its residents.
Today, passive buildings are built on all five continents, from New Zealand and Canada to Dubai. They are also present in Poland. It is assumed that there are already 65,000 such facilities in the world. These are not only single-family houses, but also multi-family and public utility buildings. Many of them had been built earlier and were subsequently adapted to the passive standard at a later time.
Atelier d'architecture RIVAT successfully creates and designs passive buildings on a small and large scale regardless of their functional purpose.
The first passive building in Darmstadt
Germany 1991
Design of a passive sports arena
Saint-Chamond, France 2019
Atelier d'architecture RIVAT
Design of a passive office and
residential building
Saint-Etienne, France 2017
Atelier d'architecture RIVAT
Definition and the four most important criteria for a passive building
Passive construction refers to innovative energy-efficient buildings with minimal heating demand. They are characterised by very good insulation parameters of the building envelope and the application of a number of solutions that reduce energy consumption during the use of the facility. The use of traditional active heating systems in such a building is unnecessary. Thanks to passive heat sources acquired by solar energy coming through the windows, as well as heat generated by users and household appliances, it is possible to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the building only from the heat recovered from ventilation.
A passive building can be built in any construction system, e.g. monolithic reinforced concrete, wooden or brick technology etc., and at any latitude of our globe.
It is cheap in operation, provides high thermal comfort all your round and optimal acoustic comfort. It is possible to use only renewable energy sources to meet all energy demand. This is the architecture of the future, positively affecting our health and enabling reduction of the negative impact of human activities on the environment.
Below are the four most important criteria for a passive building:
Cooling demand
≤ 15 kWh / m²a
Internal temperature ≥ 25 ° C
for a maximum of 36 days a year
Non-renewable primary energy demand
EP ≤ 120 kWh / m²a
Airtightness
n50 (1 / h) ≤ 0.60
Advantages
Passive facilities have no drawbacks, only advantages.
Hygienic comfort
with no pollution, with adequate humidity possible due to efficient ventilation.
Saving money
Despite higher costs incurred at the design and construction stage, the implementation of a passive house is more profitable than the construction of a standard facility. A simplified heating system and cheap operation turns out to be a more favourable solution. Higher construction costs will be paid off thanks to lower expenses incurred for use. The market value of a healthy comfortable facility equipped with effective systems will remain high.
Care for the environment
Thanks to the reduction of energy demand, the application of appropriate materials and renewable energy sources, construction and operation of passive buildings significantly reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment.
Thermal comfort
at any time of the year. Passive houses ensure a constant temperature, warm surfaces of walls, floors, windows and sunlit rooms.
Acoustic comfort
Solutions applied in passive houses significantly reduce outside noise.