Want to know what it’s like to live in a Passivhaus? Here are five things to know from someone who has built one. Ben Adam-Smith tells his story…
After building our own Passivhaus several years ago, my wife Kay and I were amazed to discover how different living in one of these ultra eco-friendly houses was, compared to living in an ordinary home. Passivhaus living comes with certain modifications to how you live that need to be adopted into your everyday behaviour in order for your build to function optimally — some describe it as learning to ‘drive’ a Passivhaus. Here are our key takeaways from my experience of Passivhaus living, including the amazing heating and acoustic benefits, why making alterations to the building fabric can be risky, and why maintaining our MVHR system is so important.
1. THOSE PASSIVHAUS CLAIMS ARE TRUE
When you’re learning about building a Passivhaus home, there are some pretty lofty claims. I’m pleased to report that, in my experience, they have all materialised.
Topping that list is the level of comfort you’ll enjoy. You may already understand the temperature
