11th International Passive House Days

11/4/2014

On November 7-9, 2014, the International Passive House Association will host the 11th International Passive House Days. The event is designed to unite the global Passive House knowledge network and promote Passive House standard across the globe. The event will open doors (literally), inviting homeowners, builders, and spectators to take a glimpse inside the Passive Houses of the world. Hundreds of Passive House residents and owners will be showcasing their homes in an effort to share their experiences and show what the standard is all about.

How It Works

Prior to the event, Passive Houses across the world register on the Passive House database to participate in the event on their desired days and at their desired times. Builders and designers will have the opportunity to share information with the general public, such as how Passive Houses work, the building process, and how Passive Houses are increasingly becoming incorporated into modern buildings. Residents of the participating Passive Houses will get the opportunity to share their stories with the general public, such as what it’s like to live in a Passive House and the types of energy savings and benefits they’ve experienced.

 

Overall, the event is an opportunity for those involved in the Passive House movement to share their knowledge with the public. By doing so, they’re spreading the word and increasing awareness and education of the standard. Passive Houses have a lot to offer to builders, residents, and the environment as a whole, and International Passive House Days acts as an outlet to deliver this information to the public.

What Is Passive House?

Passive House is a rigorous building standard designed to cut energy expenditure and improve the performance of homes and buildings.  The standard aims to bring superior comfort, resilience, and indoor air quality to those who inhabit them.

The Passive House standard operates on the following building principles:

  • Continuous insulation throughout the building envelope without thermal bridging
  • An extremely airtight envelope to prevent loss of conditioned air and infiltration from outside air
  • High-performance doors and windows – typically triple-paned windows
  • A minimal space conditioning system alongside a balanced whole-house heat or energy recovery ventilation system
  • The use of solar gain to exploit solar energy for heating purposes and minimize it for cooling purposes

North American Passive House Days Participation

There will be many Passive House buildings in North America participating in this year’s event. Many have been actively participating in the annual event since their construction course of the past few years. If you’re interested in learning more about these homes, their specs, and features, and potentially touring them during the International Passive House Days event, click here.

North American Passive Houses participating in this year’s event can be found in cities including:

  • Hudson, Wisconsin
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Northfield, Minnesota
  • Santa Cruz, California
  • Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • Brooklyn, New York
  • Saugerties, New York
  • Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta