The term becomes Passivhaus from now on leitmotiv Architects. One reason for this is a new way of understanding and rethinking architecture, as a discipline in the service of the people, and not a product of a bygone era of excess and inordinate architecture. But when were first used this term? Although its principles drink of traditional architecture, the origin of the passive house as such does not reach forty, and although it was Germany who systematized this construction, its origin is a little farther.
The term passive house was first used in America in the 80, and proposed a model able to combine innovation and efficiency, achieving a virtually zero power consumption. This term established different ranges depending on the weather, taking into account factors such as temperature, moisture, wind or solar impact, and determining the location in turn, orientation, the level of insulation or ventilation systems and structure of the house. But It, Do you not sounds like this along the lines of sustainable architecture? The passive house becomes a way of understanding the logic and rational architecture, using the natural and technical resources to achieve the highest level of comfort, as traditionally understood architecture to a few years ago.
The term Passivhaus, coming from German, and is translated as "Passive House" perfected the idea of maximum thermal comfort and zero energy, until it becomes a hallmark, systematized through the Passivhaus Institute and its certification. The Passivhaus standard allows a saving of up to 60% energy in Mediterranean climates, reaching a 80% in cold climates such as Germany. This allows us to deduce, a high investment in superior quality priori "it shows". I.e., before long the money invested for the construction is amortized over indirect heating costs, and what is more important, personal comfort.
The first building constructed with the Passivhaus standard was held in Darmstadt, in the 1990, the first of thousands of homes built in Germany and Austria in the following years. From here the Passivhaus standard spread throughout the world, coming to Spain through the Passivhaus Building Platform, and extending Andalucía, Catalonia, Basque Country, Cantabria, Madrid Galicia.
The interest in the principles of Passivhaus recently accentuated, due to the new European directive 2020 Energy Efficiency, proposed for our immediate future saving a 20% primary energy; I made that affect the process of construction and energy consumption of buildings. Which will lead us, in the Spanish case, an upgrade of building systems, still deficient in some requirements so demanding.
AIRO industrialized modular housing built to Passivhaus standard
Written by Melissa Duke