Our passive house guide will help to inform you about the possibility of eliminating the traditional furnace from the well built home. The concept originated with the Passivhaus Standard in Germany and has spread worldwide. The Passivhaus Standard is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building that results in ultra-low energy builds that require very little heating and cooling.
It is a design process that is mostly used on new buildings but can be used in remodeling as well.
The result is a very well insulated structure that is virtually airtight and is heated mostly by passive solar gain and the things that are within the home.
The only mechanical heating is usually done through a heat source that is connected to a heat recovery ventilator.
In addition, the following are recommendations, that are adapted to the local climate:
Although it varies based on local weather conditions, typical insulation values for these buildings are:
When a home is built, there are structural members commonly called studs which take the place of insulation. In these places, heat is transferred (thermal bridging happens) which adds to the heating/cooling load. This is minimized by advanced framing techniques.
Special attention is given to the placement of the home in relation to its surroundings. This is commonly called energy efficient landscaping.