Passive House
Inspired by this building standard focused on energy efficiency Bureau Architecture integrates simple Passivhaus design principles into all its projects - without necessarily seeking certification. Our goal is to create durable buildings that offer energy performance and financial returns exceeding the requirements of the current building code standard. To achieve this, we are committed to improving our design practices to better guide our construction partners.
What is Passive House (PASSIVHAUS) building standard?
Passive House Principles
• Super insulated building envelope
• Thermal bridge free construction
• Airtight & Windtight exterior envelope
• Ventilation through energy recovery ventilator
• Highly efficient windows & doors.
• Solar & heat gain optimization
Performance characteristic goals
• Airtight building shell ≤ 0.6 ACH @ 50 pascal pressure, measured by blower-door test.
• Annual heat requirement ≤ 4.75 kBtu/sf/yr
• Primary Energy 38.1 kBtu/sf/yr
The new energy standard
The Passive House concept represents today’s highest energy standard for building construction. Heating and cooling energy consumption of buildings can be reduced by up to 90%. A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually airtight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people and equipment. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by a very small source. Shading and window orientation minimizes heat gain, helping to limit and minimize any cooling load. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply, creating comfortable indoor air quality.
“A Passive House is a comprehensive system. “Passive” describes this system’s underlying receptivity and retention capacity. Working with natural resources, free solar energy is captured and applied efficiently, instead of relying predominantly on ‘active’ systems to bring a building to ‘zero’ energy. High performance triple-glazed windows, super-insulation, an airtight building shell, limitation of thermal bridging and balanced energy recovery ventilation make possible extraordinary reductions in energy use and carbon emission.”
- Passive House Institute US
Bellport NY | Passive House
designed & drafted by Eve Lefebvre MacDougall for BMA, NY
Additional info
/ Bâtiment Passif Québec
/ Passive House Canada
/ Passive House Institute
/ Passive House Institute US