What are the main differences between
a passive house and a traditional house?
By Louise Desmet & Serafine Dierickx
What is a passive house?
Built for ecological and
sustainable reasons
 For the heating yearly
15kWh/m2 or less necessary
 8 times less than a normal
house

What is the difference between traditional houses
and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better
isolation

In a passive house there more attention is paid to
cracks and crevices

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat
recovery
What is the difference between traditional houses
and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better
isolation

In a passive house there is paid more attention to
cracks and crevices

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat
recovery
A passive house reduces heat losses by better
insulation
PASSIVE HOUSE
• Better isolation
• Only solar heating required
TRADITIONAL HOUSE
• Aren’t isolated according to the
climate
What is the difference between traditional houses
and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better
insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness
of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat
recovery
Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness
of the building
PASSIVE HOUSE
TRADITIONAL HOUSE
• Air tightness
• Not a lot of attention to cracks and
crevives
• No heat losses
 By using tape or film
• Heat losses
What is the difference between traditional houses
and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better
insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness
of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with heat
recovery
Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy
PASSIVE HOUSE
TRADITIONAL HOUSE
• Warmth from the sun
• Warmth from electrity or gass
• Superisolating glass
• Singular or double glass
• Good placed awning to prevent
overheating
•/
What is the difference between traditional houses
and passive houses?

A passive house reduces heat losses by better
insulation

Less heat losses by reducing excellent air tightness
of the building

Optimising heat gain by the use of passive energy

Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with
heat recovery
Guaranteed air quality through ventilation with
heat recovery
PASSIVE HOUSE
TRADITIONAL HOUSE
• Ventilation mechanicaly controlled
• Airconditioning if installed
• In winter this way the air is
preheated
•/
•/
• In the summer the system blows the
cooled air from the soil pipe directly
into the home
Is it possible to turn a traditional house into a
passive one?

Energy efficient heating


Isolation



Solar water heating
Ventilate


Warmth scan
Isolation roof, glass and walls
Purchase a high efficiency boiler


Compare different prices of energy heating
Open your window and save energy
Don’t be ignorant


Avoid laziness
Think about alternatives
The cost of a traditional house
The cost of a passive house
The (dis)advantages of a passive house
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
+ No heating costs
+ Low emission of CO2
- Higher construction costs
-> Because of better isolation,
another balance,…
+ Fresh air
- Craftsmanship needed
+ Soundproof
+ High value (real estate)
Conclusion

Passive houses cost more to built but at the end
you regain your costs and it’s more ecological
Sources
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http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/multimedia/003/
http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PassiveHouseInfo.html
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Energy-Matters/Passive-House-Intro.aspx
http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/index.php?col=welkom&doc=passiefhuis&lng=nl
http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be/index.php?col=-welkom&doc=faq&lng=nl
http://www.passive-house.co.uk/passive_house.htm
http://www.leefmilieubrussel.be/uploadedFiles/Contenu_du_site/Professionnels/Form
ations_et_séminaires/Formation_matériaux_de_construction_(actes)/05-05-2009_ENFutureProofedConsultance-SergeDeGeldere-PrincipeDuCradleToCradleanalyseDexemples.pdf
http://www.materialsday.be/Documents/Materialsday09_sergedegheldere_light.pdf
http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/energie/pdf/Natuurcentrum%20Bourgoyen%20Gent.p
df
http://www.hoedoe.nl/natuur-milieu/milieu/energiebesparing/hoe-maak-ik-mijn-huisenergiezuinig