Without a doubt, the climate emergency must be taken seriously. Buildings account for 35 percent of total global energy consumption. We know it is essential that we transition to sustainable construction methods and materials. Understanding the environmental implications of our actions is a critical part of the journey to net zero, but in a world of green washing it becomes increasingly difficult to know which way to turn. Passive House is said to be the best energy efficient building standard currently available; it is therefore easy to see why Passive Houses are becoming even more desirable.
Ventilation specialist Lindab has for some years supplied MVHR systems as low energy solutions for domestic properties and has now introduced a Residential Heat Recovery unit which has been certified by the Passive House Institute. Lindab are a leading force when it comes to reducing the environmental impact from their customers proudly declaring that “creating a healthy indoor climate is our most important task. And we want to do it in a way that also contributes to a better climate for our planet”.
It is honourable to think of the bigger picture and deliver sustainable buildings but there is more to owning a Passive House than virtue signalling. Once a house is handed over, it becomes a home and, in our homes, we are pre-occupied with the small things that impact our own lives. Selecting a Passive House is about so much more than just world-leading energy efficiency, there are several smaller inter-connected reasons which create positive effects.
Lower energy bills
There’s rarely a day lately where rising energy costs don’t make headline news. Energy bills which once were merely an inconvenient fact of modern living are now to many, a burden which can mean having a cold home is preferable over switching the heating on. Due to their high levels of insulation and airtight design, Passive Houses perform more efficiently. Airtightness is essential to Passive House design; it means less uncontrolled air movement in and out of the building, avoiding heat loss.
The radial ducting system, InDomo offered by Lindab is Eurovent certified class D, the highest classification standard for airtightness. An InDomo system with pre-insulated ducting perfectly complements the Passive House RHR unit which recovers up to 92.5 percent of extracted heat and reduces energy wastage. The system will work more efficiently thereby reducing heating bills.
Constant fresh air
People spend 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor air in homes can be as much as five times more polluted than outdoor air. Fresh air supply is important therefore a mechanical ventilation system is necessary in an airtight Passive House.
Recent years have made us more aware of the need for good ventilation to reduce risk of infection from airborne particles. In fact, fresh air in our homes always impacts wellbeing and productivity.
An MVHR system will contribute to healthy buildings by extracting stale air from the home and replacing with outside air which has been filtered. An effective Passive House solution will guarantee good levels of ventilation whilst reducing internal pollutants such as VOCs as well as protecting against external pollutants.
Superior comfort
For a ventilation system to provide a comfortable indoor climate while also being energy efficient, the solution has to be adaptable to suit changing requirements of the property and needs of the homeowners. The use of smart technology to monitor and control factors such as pressure, air flow and humidity makes this possible.
Working with a ventilation expert to plan and design a system specifically for the property gives you a head start, this is a service provided free of charge by Lindab as part of their commitment to contribute to improved indoor air quality.
Passive Houses provide many indoor climate benefits such as reduced risk of overheating in summer; a healthier environment for people with chronic illnesses; eliminating condensation and mould and reduction in bad odours. All of which result in higher levels of comfort.
Please visit www.lindab.co.uk for more information.