English Homes To Embrace German Efficiency.
Tags: Architects, Britain, Emissions, Energy Efficient, Heating, Home, Insulation, Oil, Organic, Ventilation
According to German Professor Wolfgang Feist's theory of PassivHaus Britain will need to pay attention to three key rise in oil prices of more than £64 in the next two years.
The aim of the PassivHaus plan is to not only reduce each homes heat-waste and emissions but also to save its tenants money. By reducing the escape of heat via "heat-bridges", maximising its air-tightness and increasing its heat absorption from the sun it is predicted that a standard household can hope to improve its heating efficiency by up to 90 percent.
The PassivHaus theory describes heating/cooling systems such as air conditioners and central heating units as "active systems", units that require energy in order to maintain the homes equilibrium. The intention of the Passivhaus plan, as the name suggests, is to eliminate the use of such systems and create a passive system that requires little or no energy impute to maintain its required temperature.
In order to create an organic temperature control system a house will first have to minimise the escape of heat through "heat-bridges". Insulation is a standard means by which to control temperature however even in a well insulated home there are faults such as chimneys, doors and metal-pipes that can conduct heat to outside a building, between areas of insulation.
The concept of the "heat-bridge" has become a recognised problem in the building industry and it has inspired a new generation of British builders and architects to work towards the elimination of heat-bridges in order to maximise the heat efficiency of new buildings and attempt the conversion of older ones.
The air-tightness of a property is said to work hand in hand with its insulation properties in order to ventilation systems which represents a rate ten times that of the current UK housing regulations.
Of course the PassivHaus system is not one hundred percent energy efficient. Over and above the solar energy required to maintain the required internal temperature of a home it is predicted that a 1-2Kw electrical heater may be needed to supplement the system. This still represents the possibility of a massive improvement in the average efficiency of British homes if the PassivHaus movement is to be adopted.
