3 ms·
They're using the term passive house to mean the 'new wave' passive house, which is more about super-insulating a nearly airtight envelope. Usually a heat-recov
by georgeoliver 13y ago
They're using the term passive house to mean the 'new wave' passive house, which is more about super-insulating a nearly airtight envelope. Usually a heat-recovery ventilator is added to recover interior heat when cycling in outside air. While thermal mass can be an element in this design it's not a major factor like in a 'passive solar' house.
- copergi 13y ago>which is more about super-insulating a nearly airtight envelope That last part is the problem. Insulation is a huge part in any passive home, but heating the air means keeping things airtight. Which means terrible air quality and living conditions.
- georgeoliver 13y agoYou still exchange the air with the outside, you just do it through a heat recovery ventilation system. An introduction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house
- copergi 13y agoI am fully aware of what they are, we stopped building them for a reason. They are hell to live in. You get the bare minimum air exchange as required by code. Try being in such a building for a day. Properly constructed passive buildings use thermal mass to maintain comfortable temperatures while allowing proper ventilation.