Low-cost, comfortable, sustainable – that’s the future-proof formula for the buildings of tomorrow. During the International Passive House Days from 13 to 15 November, everyone will be able to see how this concept is already working, when several hundreds of built examples will be open for viewing. Experts will demonstrate how these buildings function, while residents will talk about their experiences. An overview of the Passive House buildings participating in the Passive House Days event in individual cities and regions around the world can be found on the website www.passivehouse-database.org.
Most of these are private Passive House residences, but offices and school buildings will also be opening their doors to the public. “During visits, everyone will be able to see for themselves that a Passive House not only saves energy but also provides substantially high levels of comfort and air quality at the same time,” says Amina Lang from the International Passive House Association. “During a tour of the house and in talks with the residents or architects, visitors can experience for themselves how pleasantly warm it is in the direct vicinity of windows, or they can be shown how easy it is to operate the ventilation system.”
Over a third of the energy used in industrialized countries is used for running buildings, most of this goes towards heating and cooling. With the Passive House Standard, it is possible to reduce this consumption by up to 90 percent. The widespread application of this construction method is therefore decisive for a sustainable energy future and for climate protection. For property owners, the Passive House Standard is also an especially attractive investment opportunity as the extra investment costs will be recouped within a few years – and monthly heating costs will remain low after that as well.
The internationally held Passive House Days have been taking place on a weekend in autumn each year since 2004. Tens of thousands of people in total have taken this opportunity to gain a first-hand experience of the benefits that a Passive House building has to offer. This event is an initiative of the International Passive House Association iPHA, in cooperation with its affiliates in their respective countries. This year the event is being organised as part of the EU-funded projects EuroPHit and Sinfonia. Example buildings from these projects can also be viewed.
