QuixoticgeekI don't think this is getting the coverage it needs. Scottish government to require passivhaus standard for all new build homes. This is big. Really big. Growing out of lessons from the 70's oil crisis. Passivhaus buildings use very little energy to heat, or to cool. We've known how to do this for decades. It's gross negligence from all western governments that the same is not true of all new builds in the developed world.
Jake Rayson@quixoticgeek finally! We really ought to #InsulateBritain
Steve MarquisInsulating the present housing stock will make the biggest gains and reduce more bills. Who can afford a passivhaus and why just that one standard?
While we're on it, let's get community heating systems in, support solar, battery systems with discounting and kill VAT on it all too!
not many *individuals* can afford passivhaus, altho it's commendable to have new build as passivhaus standard, as it's the highest insulation you can get. Does need to be balanced with sustainable building practices tho
and yes to all of the above!!
I believe? Passivhaus guidelines, although admirable, do not take into account the energy expenditure of the manufacture of the composite building parts, its embodied energy
Sustainable living dictates that houses are made using low impact, sustainable materials, whereas Passive House’s are not bound to that. The energy expended to make the materials they use can therefore, theoretically, actually outweigh the energy savings made by the performance of the property
@StevePLMarquis @quixoticgeek exactly, the embodied energy of any activity needs to be taken into account (looking at you, electric cars).
You _can_ build passivhaus with sustainable materials, I had a quick look for strawbale house eg https://strawworks.co.uk/passivhaus-in-norfolk
but it is getting the insulation *and* the sustainable materials & practices into the legislation
Strawbale Passivhaus in Norfolk - Straw Works
We are building a strawbale timber frame Passivhaus in Norfolk, and had the chance to test it for airtightness before the plaster goes on. We knew it would not give a good airtightness result – this requires the door and window installation to be complete – but we wanted to know how the straw on its own was performing, and ... Read More