common misconceptions about PassivHaus!
Here at Barefoot we are passionate about designing healthy, comfortable homes, and one of the best ways to ensure this is to build to the PassivHaus standard (see our previous blog post that breaks down what it all means). Unfortunately there are some misconceptions out there which can make clients nervous about committing, so here we’ll try to put some of these to bed!
'Lark Rise' Passive House by bere architects, Passive House Institute Single-Family Home Award Winner 2021. Image credit: bere architects.
'Passive Houses are hermetically sealed boxes with windows that don't open'
We hear this one all the time. The grain of truth in this rumour is that in a passive house you typically don't need to open the windows because the ventilation system keeps the house supplied with fresh air. However if you want to open the windows – no problem. In fact this is recommended on hot days, as having a breeze passing through the house helps to keep it cool.
'Passive Houses Are Unaffordable'
There was a time when there was a significant difference between the Building Regulations and Passive House. However the revised Part L issued in 2022 included higher U-Value requirements, meaning this is no longer the case. The uplift in cost depends on a variety of factors but as a rule of thumb might be around 5-10%, and this will gradually be offset by reduced bills. This might take 25 years, and then you're left with a comfortable house, tiny bills and a more valuable asset.
Designed on a limited budget, this 3 bedroom Passive house by RDA demonstrates how good and sustainable design can improve living standards.
Image credit: RDA Architecture + Interiors
'The ventilation systems make a humming noise'
The Passive House institute has very specific requirements for the elements that go into the build, and certain elements such as the MVHR unit have to be passive house certified. This ensures that the products used are high quality and don't make an audible sound.
'You can't have big windows in a Passive House'
When a design is being developed for passive house certification, the size and orientation of all the windows are entered into a spreadsheet. This allows us to understand exactly how the building is going to perform. There is a trade off here – huge windows might look great, but can cause overheating in summer and excessive heat loss in winter. Being able to model this accurately allows us to determine how big the windows can be before causing problems. So there is some truth here, but only in the interest of making your home as comfortable as possible.