A passive house is a concept of sustainable construction. Thanks to energy-saving components and modern technology, it allows you to achieve huge savings during the operation of the building. The advantage is unquestionable because you save money. But, what are the requirements for a passive house to be? Find out more. Passive house – requirements The passive house is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. It does not draw energy from conventional sources, but uses a clever combination of ventilation and heating technology with good insulation. Hence the term “passive” as energy sources such as solar radiation, heat from people and household appliances are not active heating systems. What conditions must a passive house meet to be able to call a building that? The most important criteria are: – Location in an open, unshaded space with maximum access to the sun. – As many three-pane windows as possible with insulated frames on the walls on the south side. – Compact and compact body. – Maximum tightness: all thermal bridges are eliminated. – Perfect insulation (minimum 30 cm for the foundation slab, walls and roof). The temperature of the walls cannot be lower than 17 ° C at the external temperature of -10 ° C and the internal temperature of + 20 ° C. – Very good mechanical ventilation with a modern recuperator (heat recovery). – No need to install radiators or use underfloor heating. – Annual heat demand index not greater than 15 kWh / m2 / year. – Energy consumption of a maximum of 1.5 liters of heating oil per square meter per year. – Annual demand for the so-called primary and electric energy not greater than 120 kWh / m2 / year. All these passive house requirements must be met in order for a building to be considered an object that prevents energy wastage. How does a passive house save energy? A passive house uses the energy of solar radiation and the heat of people and equipment that are inside the building, so it can do without a classic heating system. In this way, the owners of such a house annually save a lot on heating costs and the purchase of materials such as gas, oil or pellets. In the case of a passive house with an area of ​​120 m², heating costs will be several times lower than in the case of an energy-efficient building and several times lower than in the old, non-insulated construction. And although a passive house does not have an active heating system, ventilation makes it possible to maintain a constant, comfortable temperature everywhere. The building can store heat optimally in winter and does not heat up excessively in summer. There are also no problems with hot water. Solar collectors or heat pumps are used for its production, which are often integrated with modern ventilation systems of passive houses. What are the advantages of passive houses? A passive house is a promising model of modern construction. Without fossil heating technology, but with a combination of good insulation, ventilation and heating technology, large amounts of energy and therefore money can be saved. Of course, the ecological aspect of such construction and active climate protection are noteworthy. Here are the most important advantages that can be obtained when passive house conditions are met: – 90% lower heating costs – compared to unrenovated old buildings, – much lower CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, – great independence from changes in energy prices, – protection against drafts and moisture, – reduced risk of mold, – improved sound insulation, – no need to heat, store fuel or build a chimney, – maximum access to daylight, – healthy indoor climate thanks to perfect ventilation. All these advantages make it worth taking care of meeting the conditions for building a passive house, because it is a very profitable investment for the future.