Progressive builders are currently facing a challenge in unifying a tangible standard for how to build residential homes. Many, if not all, American builders who are truly passionate about their craft want to see stricter building code in America.

Let’s take a brief look at a residential construction framework that is becoming common place in the European/Canadian/World market and gaining popularity in the American residential market.

A Passive House, also known as Passivhaus in German, is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in buildings. The primary goal of a Passive House is to create an ultra-low energy building that requires very little energy for heating or cooling, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower environmental impact.

Key features of Passive Houses include:

1. Superior Insulation: Passive Houses are built with high-quality insulation materials that minimize heat transfer through walls, floors, and roofs, ensuring that the indoor temperature remains stable.

2. High-Performance Windows and Doors: Special attention is given to windows and doors to minimize air leakage and heat transfer. Triple-pane windows with low-emissivity coatings are often used to prevent heat loss.

3. Airtight Construction: Passive Houses are designed to be extremely airtight to prevent drafts and heat loss. This is achieved through careful sealing of building envelopes, including joints, windows, doors, and other openings.

4. Heat Recovery Ventilation: Passive Houses are equipped with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) that continuously circulates fresh air while recovering heat from the outgoing stale air. This helps maintain indoor air quality and reduces the need for additional heating.

5. Passive Solar Design: Passive Houses are designed to maximize solar gain during colder months, using features such as south-facing windows, thermal mass (such as concrete floors or walls), and shading elements to optimize natural light and heat.

6. Energy-Efficient Appliances: Energy-efficient appliances and lighting fixtures are used to further reduce energy consumption within the building.

7. Renewable Energy Integration: While not a strict requirement for Passive House certification, many Passive Houses incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar panels or geothermal systems to further reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

The Passive House standard originated in Germany in the late 1980s and has since gained recognition and adoption worldwide as a leading approach to sustainable and energy-efficient building design. Buildings that meet the rigorous criteria set by the Passive House Institute can be certified as Passive Houses.