Sustainable building and passive house
Sustainability has become the most popular and environmentally conscious way of life. It's really no secret that we only take on sustainable building projects in Melbourne, but unfortnatly, sustainability and passive housing are still seen as an expensive building option when that couldn't be further from the truth. There are still so many misconceptions about this topic, and so often, we see sustainability being blamed for the increase in building costs.
Passive house architects have revolutionised sustainable living by allowing energy savings for heating and cooling of as much as ninety per cent compared to typical buildings. Whilst this data is yet to be confirmed in Australia, this is the data that has come out of Europe, and hopefully, soon, we will have our own Australian data around the savings, which is expected to be on par with Europe.
But if you're new to the passive house scene or wondering what it is, here is a quick rundown.
5 Key Principles Of Passive House Design And Construction:
Passive house is considered the most meticulous energy-based standard in the design and construction industry today, and the following five principles are key to passive house design and construction.
Thermal Insulation: This can be achieved by building envelopes, which separate the interior of the building from the exterior; they consist of the outside wall, roofs, and floor, which helps to minimise heat loss in winter and limit heat gain in summer. Melbourne has a cool temperate climate, so we want to make sure we create a great thermal barrier between the inside and out.
Airtight Construction: This means no drought is coming in or out. It is very important to consider this in the designing stage, as the air barrier of the home will need to be continuous and clear, and there should be no gaps in the skin of the wall. This is the biggest game changer with respect to efficiency and comfort. Everyone thinks thermally when we talk about comfort, but no one likes a draughty building!
High-Performance Glazing: While the walls make up most of the building's facade, the glazing system (Window and glazed doors) can play an even more critical role in heating energy. Due to their function in providing light and visibility, glazing systems cannot be insulated as much as walls, resulting in the windows being the weakest area of the envelope. Therefore, it is very important to use high-performance glazing systems, such as passive house-certified windows, to minimise heat flow as much as possible while still allowing plenty of sunlight to enter the home. There is a huge misconception that these windows cost more, which is totally false. We have evidence to suggest that high-performance windows can be cheaper!
Ventilation and Heat Recovery: Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) continuously throw out stale and moist air and deliver fresh air. During this process, heat is removed from the exhaust air and put into the incoming air without mixing the airstreams. This way, all the inside heat is not completely lost outside. We do this thing called breathing, showering, or cooking, which produces moisture, so we want to make sure we remove that from the home to reduce the chances of mould growth.
Thermal Bridge-Free Design: This approach to design involves constructing building elements to eliminate thermal bridges so heat can escape and enter the building more efficiently. This is done by ensuring that insulation is continuous and uninterrupted.
Now, passive house architects and builders didn't invent these concepts. They are not new and have been around since physics was created (if that's even a term). They are just the basics of building well and correctly, and when you put them together, you get a comfortable home.
But what does all this mean ? Why do we want to build correctly, and how does this link to sustainability?
Let's explore the advantages of passive houses.
Energy-efficient: Passive house architects use advanced insulation and airtight construction techniques, significantly reducing energy needs for cooling and heating. Homeowners enjoy sustainable savings on energy and utility bills due to less reliance on traditional common cooling and heating systems. To give you an idea, some of our clients are yet to turn on their heaters in winter!
Sustainable Living: Sustainable living in homes is about minimising environmental impact and maximising occup t well-being without solely focusing on energy efficiency. Here's how:
Conserving Water: Using efficient fixtures, harvesting rainwater, and even recycling greywater for things like watering the garden. Choosing plants that don't need a lot of water also helps.
Choosing the Right Materials: Building with recycled and locally sourced materials minimises waste and transportation costs. Prioritising durable materials means less frequent replacements.
Creating a Healthy Indoor Environment: Good airflow reduces the need for artificial climate control. Using non-toxic paints and maximising natural light are also key.
Minimising Waste: Composing, recycling, and simply consuming less are all crucial.
Building for Resilience: Homes should be able to withstand extreme weather and changing climate conditions through thoughtful design and durable construction.
Healthcare Benefits: A ventilation system with constant heat recovery maintains air quality and delivers fresh air. Airtight designs and better insulation also help prevent mould growth and allergens. The issue here is that no one ever talks about the poor indoor air quality the average Australian home has to endure. If we could build our homes to have better indoor air quality, this would, in turn, result in a huge reduction of people visiting hospitals due to respiratory diseases and overall reduce the burden on our healthcare system.
Better Indoor Comfort: Through airtight design and high-quality construction material, passive houses can maintain cosy indoor temperatures throughout the year and, once again, reduce the need for heating and cooling systems. These house systems dispense fresh air into living spaces and bedroom rooms while removing stale air from "wet, humid" rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen using a chain of ducts. This balances ventilation and clean air and also eliminates drafts, ensuring a draft-free, pleasant living space for all. When we talk about comfort, we need to consider temperature, vibrations, sound, air quality and noise. We can tell you a passive house in Melbourne dramatically improves all of these when compared to a standard home.
Discover How Carland Constructions Revolutionised Sustainable Building
Discover how Carland Constructions is at the forefront of passive housing in the construction industry. As leading builders in Melbourne West, we are the construction leaders in building healthy homes, specifically high-performance and passive house construction in Melbourne. By focusing on sustainable design principles, Carland Constructions is helping homeowners create energy-efficient spaces that promote healthier, energy efficient and more comfortable lifestyles. Whilst everyone plays catch up, we set the new standard of building bett ser.