History of Passive House
The Evolution of the Passive House Standard and Its Impact in Ireland
The Passive House standard, a revolutionary approach to energy-efficient building design, emerged in the late 1980s through the collaboration of Swedish physicist Bo Adamson and German researcher Wolfgang Feist. Their vision—to create homes that maintain comfort with minimal energy use—led to the first Passive House in Darmstadt, Germany (1990), achieving 90% less heating demand than conventional buildings. This innovation laid the foundation for the global Passive House movement, now championed in Ireland by the Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI).
Origins and Early Development
1988: Adamson and Feist conceptualized buildings that rely on passive heating (solar gain, internal heat sources, and heat recovery ventilation).
1990: The Kranichstein Passive House in Darmstadt became the first certified project, using only 10% of the energy of standard homes.
1996: Feist founded the Passive House Institute (PHI) to formalize standards and certification.
Global Expansion & Irish Adoption
By the 2000s, the standard spread globally, with Ireland playing a key role:
2005: Architect Tomas O’Leary built Ireland’s first Passive House, Out of the Blue, in County Wicklow.
2010: The Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI) was established to promote low-energy design, advocate for policy changes, and provide certification support.
2020s: PHAI collaborates with universities, developers, and policymakers to advance NZEB (nearly zero-energy building) standards and deep retrofits.
Key Principles of the Passive House Standard
The PHAI emphasizes five core principles for certification:
Super insulation: Walls, roofs, and floors with U-values ≤ 0.15 W/(m²K).
Airtight Construction: ≤ 0.6 air changes per hour at 50Pa pressure.
Thermal Bridge-Free Design: Eliminates weak points in insulation.
High-Performance Windows: Triple-glazed, insulated frames.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR): Retains 75–90% of heat from exhaust air.
The Role of the Passive House Association of Ireland
The PHAI drives Ireland’s transition to sustainable building practices by:
Education: Offering workshops, design guides, and partnerships with institutions like South West College’s CREST Centre.
Advocacy: Pushing for stricter building codes aligned with EU climate goals
Certification: Ensuring projects meet PHI criteria for energy efficiency and comfort.
Community Building: Hosting events like Design and Build for Performance (2024) with Construct Innovate
Benefits of Passive House Certification
Energy Savings: Heating costs as low as €55/year for retrofitted homes.
Healthier Air Quality: Continuous MVHR filtration reduces allergens and pollutants.
Climate Resilience: Aligns with Ireland’s 2030 carbon targets by slashing building-sector emissions.
Why Choose the Passive House Standard in Ireland?
The Passive House Association of Ireland provides a proven framework to achieve NZEB compliance, combat fuel poverty, and future-proof homes against energy price volatility. With over 30 certified projects nationwide, including social housing and commercial builds, PHAI-certified designs ensure quality assurance, comfort, and sustainability
