Passive House Standards: Building Homes for Canadian Winters

Passive House Standards: Building Homes for Canadian Winters

Read time: 4 min

October 27, 2024

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Did you know that 62% of household energy in Canada is used for heating homes during the cold winters? With rising energy costs, many families are looking for solutions that can help them reduce energy consumption while maintaining warmth in their homes. Passive Houses are one of the best solutions to this challenge. For example, using these standards in new homes can save up to 90% of energy consumption.

These homes are designed with Canada’s harsh winters in mind, optimizing heating and insulation to provide comfort and savings, even in the coldest months of the year. In the following sections, we will show you how these standards can revolutionize the way homes are built in Canada while also contributing to environmental sustainability.

This article was written by the Research and Development Unit at Lasting Oak.

Passive House

What is a Passive House?

A Passive House is a special kind of building that is designed to use very little energy for heating or cooling. Instead of relying on large heating systems, it uses really good insulation, strong windows and doors, and smart ventilation systems to keep the indoor temperature comfortable.

Imagine wearing a warm coat in winter that doesn’t let any cold air in. A Passive House does something similar by keeping the warmth inside and the cold outside. It even uses sunlight and the heat from people and appliances to help keep the house warm.

This design allows Passive Houses to use up to 90% less energy than regular homes while still being cozy and comfortable.

How Do Passive Houses Work?

Super Insulation

In a Passive House, super insulation is used in the walls, roof, and floors. This insulation works like a thick blanket, trapping heat inside during winter and keeping the home cool in summer. The insulation in a Passive House is often several times thicker than what you’d find in a regular home. This ensures that heat doesn’t escape, reducing the need for constant heating, and maintaining a consistent indoor temperature throughout the year.

 

Airtight Construction

A key feature of Passive Houses is their airtightness. These homes are built so that there are no leaks or drafts. This means cold air cannot sneak in, and warm air cannot escape. Advanced construction techniques and materials are used to ensure the house is sealed tight. Even small gaps in windows or doors can cause energy loss, so Passive Houses are designed to eliminate those gaps entirely. By keeping air from leaking out, the house stays warm with minimal energy use.

Passive House

Energy-efficient Windows

Windows in Passive Houses are triple-glazed and made from materials that help prevent heat loss. These special windows allow sunlight to enter the house, warming it up naturally, but they prevent indoor heat from escaping. Essentially, the house takes advantage of the sun’s warmth, without losing heat through the windows. Additionally, these windows block cold drafts, keeping the interior comfortable, while also improving noise insulation, ensuring a quiet indoor environment.

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV)

In airtight houses, fresh air circulation can become a problem. Passive Houses use a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) to address this. The HRV brings fresh air in from outside while extracting stale air from inside, but it also captures the heat from the outgoing air and transfers it to the incoming fresh air. This means you get fresh air without losing the warmth, making the house energy-efficient and ensuring that the air quality indoors is always fresh and clean, without needing to open windows in the cold.

Passive House

No Thermal Bridges

In conventional homes, thermal bridges—places where heat can escape, such as the joints between walls and windows—can cause significant energy loss. In a Passive House, the design eliminates these thermal bridges. Every part of the house, including the corners, walls, and windows, is carefully insulated to prevent heat from escaping through these weak points. This ensures the entire building is uniformly energy-efficient, with no areas where heat can easily leak out.

Top Benefits of Passive House: Energy Savings, Comfort, and Sustainability

 

Significant Energy Savings

Passive Houses are designed to use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling compared to traditional homes. This is achieved through high-quality insulation, airtight construction, and efficient ventilation systems. These features allow the house to maintain a comfortable temperature by using natural energy sources like sunlight and heat generated by people and appliances inside. This leads to much lower utility bills, especially in colder climates.

Increased Comfort

A key benefit of Passive Houses is the constant indoor temperature. Advanced insulation and airtight construction prevent drafts and cold spots, maintaining a comfortable temperature all year round, regardless of the weather outside. The high-performance windows also help retain heat and block noise, providing a quieter and cozier living space.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Passive Houses use an advanced ventilation system that continuously brings in fresh air and filters out dust, pollen, and other pollutants. The ventilation system also regulates humidity levels, preventing mold growth and improving the quality of indoor air. This is particularly beneficial for people with allergies or respiratory conditions.

Passive House

Environmental Sustainability

Because Passive Houses require significantly less energy, they contribute to reducing carbon emissions. By reducing the need for fossil fuels like natural gas and oil, these homes help protect the environment and reduce the homeowner’s carbon footprint. Many Passive Houses also use eco-friendly building materials, further enhancing their sustainability.

Long-Term Cost Savings

Although building a Passive House might involve higher initial costs due to the need for specialized materials and construction methods, the long-term savings on energy bills more than compensate for it. Over time, the reduced energy consumption can result in significant financial savings, making these homes a smart long-term investment.

Government Incentives

In many regions, governments offer incentives for building energy-efficient homes like Passive Houses. These incentives can include grants, tax credits, or rebates, making the upfront costs of building a Passive House more affordable for homeowners.

Durability and Low Maintenance

Passive Houses are built with high-quality materials and are designed to be airtight, which reduces the risk of moisture-related issues like mold. As a result, these homes require less maintenance over time compared to conventional houses. The durability of Passive Houses makes them a long-lasting and sustainable solution for homeowners.

Passive House

Why Passive Houses Are Perfect for Canadian Winters?

In a country like Canada, where winters can be harsh and long, a Passive House is the ideal solution. The extreme insulation and airtight design mean that even in the coldest temperatures, the house stays warm and cozy without constantly running the heat.

In provinces like British Columbia, homeowners with Passive Houses have reported that even during freezing temperatures, they barely needed to use any external heating systems​. The house’s ability to retain heat from the sun and everyday activities like cooking keeps it warm, despite the cold weather outside.

In addition, Passive Houses help prevent common winter problems like cold drafts, uneven heating, or high humidity, making them not only energy-efficient but also more comfortable to live in.

Passive House

Why Choose Passive House for Your Next Home?

As the world moves towards more sustainable living, Passive Houses offer a powerful solution for reducing energy consumption, lowering costs, and creating comfortable, healthy homes. With their ability to cut energy use by up to 90%, Passive Houses are not only an investment in your personal comfort and financial savings, but also in the environment. By embracing the innovative design principles of airtight construction, superior insulation, and smart ventilation systems, homeowners can enjoy year-round comfort while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Whether you’re building a new home or considering renovations, choosing Passive House standards is a step towards a greener, more sustainable future. In the face of rising energy prices and climate challenges, Passive Houses provide a clear path to better living—comfortably, efficiently, and responsibly.

A Passive House is a highly energy-efficient building designed to maintain a comfortable indoor climate with minimal energy use. It works by using advanced insulation, airtight construction, and energy-efficient windows to reduce the need for heating and cooling. A heat recovery ventilation system keeps the indoor air fresh while retaining heat, ensuring the home stays warm in winter and cool in summer with very little energy.

The cost to build a Passive House can be 10-20% higher than a traditional home due to the specialized materials and construction techniques used. However, the long-term savings on energy bills can offset the upfront costs. For example, while initial construction may be higher, Passive Houses can reduce energy bills by up to 90%, leading to significant savings over time.

Passive Houses are designed to use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling compared to conventional homes. This is achieved through a combination of insulation, airtightness, and efficient ventilation systems. These homes typically rely on natural heat sources like sunlight and body heat, reducing the need for traditional energy-consuming systems.

Yes, Passive Houses are ideal for cold climates like Canada. They are specifically designed to handle extreme temperatures by minimizing heat loss and maximizing the use of natural energy sources. The thick insulation and airtight design keep the house warm in winter, even when outside temperatures drop significantly.

The benefits of living in a Passive House include:

  • Energy efficiency: Up to 90% less energy consumption.
  • Increased comfort: Consistent indoor temperature without drafts.
  • Improved air quality: Fresh, filtered air year-round.
  • Lower carbon footprint: Reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Long-term cost savings: Lower utility bills.

Materials used in Passive House construction include:

  • High-performance insulation (such as rigid foam or fiberglass).
  • Triple-glazed windows to prevent heat loss.
  • Airtight membranes and seals to stop air leakage.
  • Heat recovery ventilation systems to manage fresh air intake without losing heat.
  • Eco-friendly and sustainable building materials are often preferred, such as recycled wood or low-VOC materials.

The time to build a Passive House depends on the size and complexity of the project, but on average, it can take around 12 to 18 months. This includes the design phase, construction, and certification process to ensure that the house meets Passive House standards.

Yes, Passive Houses typically cost 10-20% more upfront due to the specialized materials and design requirements. However, the long-term savings on energy bills, as well as potential government incentives, can make it a financially wise decision over time.

Both Passive Houses and Net-Zero homes are designed to minimize energy use, but they have some key differences:

  • Passive Houses focus on reducing the need for heating and cooling through insulation, airtightness, and energy efficiency.
  • Net-Zero homes generate as much energy as they consume, often through renewable energy sources like solar panels. While a Passive House reduces energy consumption dramatically, a Net-Zero home aims to offset its total energy use.

Yes, there are government incentives and grants available for building energy-efficient homes, including Passive Houses. Programs like the Canada Greener Homes Grant offer financial support for homeowners who adopt energy-efficient building practices. These incentives can help reduce the initial cost of building a Passive House.

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