Comments on: Passive Homes Heat Up Around the World http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:55:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Passive Housing Gets Green Light | Go Green Parkhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-116445 Passive Housing Gets Green Light | Go Green Park Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:42:38 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/#comment-116445 [...] though it isn’t prevalent in the U.S. yet, the concept of Passive Housing is certainly catching on across the globe. Defined as architectural design that does not require mechanical heating or [...] [...] though it isn’t prevalent in the U.S. yet, the concept of Passive Housing is certainly catching on across the globe. Defined as architectural design that does not require mechanical heating or [...]

]]> By: MikeKhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-115303 MikeK Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:35:00 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/#comment-115303 Great post! Just a comment regarding Passive Houses in the US. There indeed have long been buildings employing passive solar techniques here in the US. The Passivhaus Institut readily and rightly credits Schick, Schurcliff, Lovins, Orr, et al for the development of super-insulated buildings that passively harness the sun's energy. But, while we were enjoying low fuel prices over the past 15-20 years, the Europeans have markedly advanced the concept. Hard building science with respect to ventilation, air and moisture control, thermal bridging - along with the development of an energy modeling for very efficient buildings - have led to the development of a profound and rigorous energy STANDARD called "Passive House" (passivhaus, in German). This voluntary standard has also spawned an industry of high-performance windows and doors, super-efficient air handlers, miniaturized heating and cooling systems, thermally "broken" connections and fasteners, etc. In Europe, Passive House is a fully-realized system of building that is way beyond our fathers' passive solar house. And that system is beginning to find an audience here.Mike Kernagis Passive House Institute US Great post! Just a comment regarding Passive Houses in the US. There indeed have long been buildings employing passive solar techniques here in the US. The Passivhaus Institut readily and rightly credits Schick, Schurcliff, Lovins, Orr, et al for the development of super-insulated buildings that passively harness the sun’s energy. But, while we were enjoying low fuel prices over the past 15-20 years, the Europeans have markedly advanced the concept. Hard building science with respect to ventilation, air and moisture control, thermal bridging – along with the development of an energy modeling for very efficient buildings – have led to the development of a profound and rigorous energy STANDARD called “Passive House” (passivhaus, in German). This voluntary standard has also spawned an industry of high-performance windows and doors, super-efficient air handlers, miniaturized heating and cooling systems, thermally “broken” connections and fasteners, etc. In Europe, Passive House is a fully-realized system of building that is way beyond our fathers’ passive solar house. And that system is beginning to find an audience here.

Mike Kernagis
Passive House Institute US

]]> By: CaluhaBarneshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-115253 CaluhaBarnes Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:06:34 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/#comment-115253 WOW, it is so exciting to see the reemergence of passive homes and their characteristic lines of modernism – I love it, “house as art” AND friend of the environment. I agree with the previous comment, indeed we have been here before in the United States. However, hopefully with the expanding acceptance and understanding of the unstainability of our current home building strategies, the construction of passive homes will become best practices rather than a trend that is here today and gone once again for another generation. WOW, it is so exciting to see the reemergence of passive homes and their characteristic lines of modernism – I love it, “house as art” AND friend of the environment. I agree with the previous comment, indeed we have been here before in the United States. However, hopefully with the expanding acceptance and understanding of the unstainability of our current home building strategies, the construction of passive homes will become best practices rather than a trend that is here today and gone once again for another generation.

]]> By: bearsonghttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-115232 bearsong Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:06:01 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/#comment-115232 "Passive design emerged in Darmstadt, Germany in 1990 with the construction of the first passive house."This is untrue, I have a book, 30 Energy-Efficient Houses...You Can Build (1977) that prominently features Passive Design. “Passive design emerged in Darmstadt, Germany in 1990 with the construction of the first passive house.”

This is untrue, I have a book, 30 Energy-Efficient Houses…You Can Build (1977) that prominently features Passive Design.

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