6 Myths About Passive House Busted

When you talk or read about Passive House, you’ll most likely come across arguments against this relatively new concept. There are people who try to discredit this form of building because they either don't fully understand it, or they are not open to change. On platforms such as Facebook groups and online forums, everyone is an expert and false pieces of information are thrown around with no evidence backing them up – which can get confusing. Some of these statements can gain traction, with the potential to deter people from deciding to build a Passive House. So we thought we’d get one step ahead and dispel the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding Passive House.

1. You can't open your windows in a Passive House
   This is one of the most common ones we hear, but we are here to let you know that this is definitely not the case. There is nothing stopping you from opening your doors and windows for some fresh air or to let a nice cool breeze flow through (especially during summer!), as this is the cheapest way to cool down your home. And if opening doors and windows in the middle of winter is your thing, then go for it!
   This misconception is confused with the fact that you don’t actually need to open your doors or windows in a Passive House for ventilation and fresh air like you would in a standard home. Passive Houses use a mechanical ventilation system, which prevents the house from ever feeling ‘stuffy’ and provides constant, filtered fresh air whilst also controlling and maintaining the comfort levels within the home. So you can always listen to the kids playing outside or the sound of rain through an open window – even in your Passive House.
   

2. They’re ugly
   Passive House is a standard, not a design. You can design your Passive House to look however you want as well as adapting it to meet heritage overlay requirements. As a Passive House Builder, we are generally more concerned about what is happening behind your final finishes and how your house performs, as opposed to what stone you're putting in your kitchen.
   When most passive homes came out of Germany and Austria there was a certain level of local aesthetic that needed to be met, which resulted in the misconception that all Passive Houses must look a certain way. However, there are actually no restrictions on what your Passive House can look like and some of these homes are now winning awards for their amazing architectural design - the possibilities are endless!
   

3. They are too complicated
   Okay, this one might not be a total myth because to some extent it is true. When you look at all the relevant thermal bridging demands, a maximum annual heating demand of less than 15kWh/m2 and an airtightness rating of less than 0.6ACH, it may all sound very confusing and look like gibberish. However, all you need to understand as the occupant is how to live in your home and maybe change a filter in your HRV system every now and again. All the hard work goes into the design and construction phase, which is why it is extremely important to choose a knowledgeable Design Team and Builder who will guide you through the whole process, making it as simple and stress-free as possible!
   

4. We don't have weather like they do in Europe
   In Australia, we may not experience the cold and snow like Europe and America, but we do experience the heat and we understand how uncomfortable some homes can be to live in during a heatwave. Passive House is often perceived as a cold-climate solution, yet it has been designed to keep your home comfortable in any climate. Each home is designed using data from your area so it can be adapted specifically to your local climate. What's amazing about these homes is that when the power companies start switching off your power during a surge, you won't even notice as your home will be able to retain its internal temperature for quite some time.
   

5. Passive Houses don’t have heating or cooling
   Passive Houses still require some heating and cooling, but no where near as much as your standard home. A Passive House will use the heat in the air, the steam from your shower and even the heat from your hairdryer to help maintain its warmth, recycling the heat in the air and reusing it - resulting in up to a 90% reduction in energy consumption. This is why we have HR in HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation). However, a small aircon and an electric heater should still be installed so that it can be used if needed, but they must not exceed the heating and cooling loads required to achieve Passive House certification. You will also only need to run them for a short period of time - with the home being airtight, this extra warm/cool air will be recycled using the HRV system to maintain a comfortable temperature for longer than a standard home can. 
   

6. They’re too expensive
   This particular misconception comes from the fact that very specific materials are required when building a Passive House in order for it to be effective. The windows, doors and insulation do cost more than some conventional alternatives, however the benefits far outweigh the costs. Typically, Passive House requirements make up around 30% of the total building cost. However, items such as windows, insulation, ventilation, heating and cooling are still costs that need to be considered in any building’s budget. Therefore, it is only an extra 5-10% of the total cost that is associated with meeting Passive House Certification. These extra expenses can be quickly made up through lower operational costs, which can save you thousands of dollars a year - essentially paying for themselves in a very short period. So, when you consider the total cost of the house, you need to look at it long term and compare the total costs after a year, five years and ten years – you’ll soon see that the Passive House not only catches up, but exceeds the savings of a conventional home.

Any situation that requires change will have people doubting it and trying to discredit it, but hopefully we have dispelled some of the myths surrounding Passive House. The concept demands the highest standards of building and in Australia we need to move away from building to poor standards that are 20 years behind the rest of the world. We should be placing more accountability on our Designers, Builders and policies to build higher quality homes that will last.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding Passive House, please contact us and we will do our best to answer these for you and dispel some of the other myths out there.