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The Healthiest House

LANDMARK PASSIVHAUS ENGINEERS THE INDOOR CLIMATE OF OUR BUILDINGS TO PRODUCE THE HEALTHIEST POSSIBLE HOME FOR ITS INHABITANTS. PASSIVHAUS CERTIFICATION STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT THESE BENEFITS ARE BUILT-IN: CAREFUL ATTENTION IS PAID TO THERMAL COMFORT, FRESH AIR EXCHANGE, AND MOISTURE CONTROL.

Superior thermal quality

A Passivhaus stores heat far more efficiently — with a super-insulated structure wrapped in an exceptionally tight envelope. This makes for more comfortable living: consistent indoor temperatures are maintained, without cold spots or drafts.

Higher indoor air quality

Air quality isn't an accident in a Passivhaus: a specialized air exchanger and careful engineering of air circulation throughout the building ensure that a typical passive house has an abundant and constant supply of fresh air.

Optimal humidity range

A building's optimal humidity is essential to the health of its inhabitants: air that is too dry creates health complications, while overly humid conditions promote mould and mildew problems.

In a Passivhaus, meticulous attention is paid to how moisture accumulates: how it migrates throughout the dwelling, and how it is intended to dry — maintaining constant humidity in the ideal range for the best health of the building... and its occupants.

Capturing Heat

In colder climates a heat exchange device captures the heat from exhaust air and uses it to raise the temperature of the incoming fresh air — and operate at an impressive 80-90% efficiency.

This small, super-efficient device is the only high-tech HVAC equipment required in a passive house. It is silent running, requires minimal power, and continuously pumps fresh air into your home.

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The Lightest Footprint

PASSIVEHAUS BUILDINGS DELIVER IMPRESSIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY: THEY ARE 70-90% MORE EFFICIENT TO OPERATE THAN CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTIONS. GIVEN THAT HOME HEATING IS THE LARGEST SLICE OF PERSONAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION, A SAVINGS OF THIS MAGNITUDE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES OUR OVERALL ENERGY / CARBON FOOTPRINT.

Energy Balanced

The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is a design tool used primarily for modelling a building’s energy balance to meet Passive House standards. PHPP is used to model a Passive House building for the lowest possible heating/cooling demand. A successful design can be validated by balancing heat gains and losses — through the manipulation of the building envelope design, the building’s site orientation, and engineered air exchange.


Highest Quality Construction

Building to the highest standard reduces the environmental footprint in several ways:

  • It ensures that measured performance efficiencies meet the design spec;
  • recurring embodied energy costs are reduced by extending the useful life of all building components;
  • and the concientious planning and execution of a Landmark Passivhaus significantly reduces waste and do-overs during the construction process.

 

Lower Embodied Energy

As a home becomes more energy efficient, embodied energy becomes a larger percentage of the lifetime energy footprint of the home. Landmark Passivhaus homes are engineered to lower embodied energy usage by making concious, judicious choices about construction materials and building components; their sourcing and transportation; and the construction process itself.

This is Happening!

Global warming, geopolitics and soaring energy costs are driving demand and development of alternatives to the world's inefficient building techniques. The EU has created policy that all member countries will restrict construction to "Nearly Zero Energy Buildings" by 2020. The principles of passive house development are what they will be following.
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What is Embodied Energy?

Embodied energy is an accounting method which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product life-cycle. This includes assessing the relevance and extent of energy into raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition as well as human and secondary resources. (Source: Wikipedia)

Calculating Heat Loss

The formula used to determine the heating demand of a building is:

Total heating demand =
Total heat losses - Total heat gains

Where: Total heat losses = Transmission losses + Ventilation losses
And: Total heat gains = Solar gains + Internal gains*
*(occupants and appliances) These gains are free.

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The Smartest Choice

EVERY BUILDING HAS A PURPOSE, A LIFESPAN, AN ENERGY FOOTPRINT, A QUANTITY OF OCCUPANTS IT SERVES, A VOLUME IT OCCUPIES, A LAYOUT AND FLOW IN USE, AN AESTHETIC IMPRESSION, AND —AND MOST OF ALL— A QUALITY OF LIFE IT WILL DELIVER TO ITS INHABITANTS. WE BELIEVE THAT HOMES THAT CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY IN ALL THESE WAYS ARE THE ONLY ONES WORTH BUILDING. BY BUILDING A LANDMARK PASSIVEHAUS TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD, WE ARE CHANGING THE BUILD...

the building1 croppedAffordable to build... Inexpensive to run

To build Passive there is a initial 5-10% cost premium, however the enormous energy savings (70-90%) recover that additional cost in short order.

Simpler to operate

Passivehaus eliminates the need for complex heating and cooling systems and the problems associated with their maintenance, repair and upkeep — yeilding significant long-term cost savings when compared to other constructions. The end result: a hassle-free home-owning experience.

certified passive house

Built to last

A Landmark Passivehaus Certified home is built to the most rigorous standards, using the best materials and components, and the most advanced construction techniques... and a built-to-last philosophy that produces century quality. The result: the best long-term value for a home.

The King of ROI (Return on Investment)

Click below to see the calculation of immediate ROI break-even when +7.5% difference is attached to a mortgage.

LINKS

Here are some reference links to get lots of info on Passive House:

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