What is a Passive House?

The term passive house (Passivhaus in German) refers to the rigorous, voluntary, Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency in buildings. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. The basic design principles are:

1. Passive solar design
2. Superinsulation
3. Advanced window technology
4. Airtightness
5. Ventilation with energy recovery
6. Space heating

Estimates on the number of passive houses around the world range from 15,000 to 20,000. The vast majority have been built in German-speaking countries or Scandinavia. If we are able to obtain certification, our project would be the first one here in NYC.

For more information about how this works please visit the Passive House Institute here in the US.

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