Understanding Passive House principles gives insight into how a home SHOULD perform. These five principles—airtightness, insulation, quality windows, mechanical ventilation, and minimising thermal bridges—work together to ensure comfort, energy efficiency, and durability!

If you have a very tight budget and you’re NOT planning a full Passive House renovation, don’t worry! You can still use these principles to improve your existing home. Here’s how:

Quality Windows & Doors: Replace outdated windows and doors to improve sealing, keep draughts out, and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Airtight Building Envelope: Reduce draughts by sealing gaps, cover spaced floorboards, adding door frame seals, and avoiding cavity sliding doors. Simple fixes like dampers in exhaust fans can make a big difference!

Mechanical Ventilation: Indoor air quality is important and if you are taking the above measures seriously, then it might be time to consider a HRV. Invest in an HRV system for cleaner, fresher air, even in homes that aren’t fully airtight.

Super Insulation: Start with accessible areas like the roof or floor to boost insulation. Even small DIY projects can significantly improve comfort and energy efficiency.

Thermal Bridge-Free Design: Address connections between indoor and outdoor spaces, such as steel beams or aluminium frames, by insulating or replacing them to reduce heat loss.

 

Have questions about making your home more sustainable? Let us help! Get in touch!